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Archive through April 29, 2006

The TVClubHouse: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2006 - 1: American Inventor: Archive through April 29, 2006 users admin

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Hummingbird
Member

08-21-2002

Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 5:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hummingbird a private message Print Post    
The football catcher inventor said in his trial video that the prototype that was build broke and had to be reworked. The kids were back to using the swimming pool noodle. He used his $50,000 and still didn't have a product that worked. The sandbag filler had the best trial results and the one already patented doesn't fill a bag in the same motion as it scoops. So what if he didn't need a lot of money to develope it? I would think that would be a positive thing.

The umbrella was a good idea but the finished product was too bulky and a woman's hand wouldn't fit around it easily. I think she got the worst design team.

I am glad to hear that the first hour was a recap. I thought I had missed part of the semi-finals.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 6:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
Nah, you didn't miss a thing, Hummingbird...it was just a reCRAP

Ketchuplover
Member

08-30-2000

Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 6:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ketchuplover a private message Print Post    
I that gobagger looks dorky compared to the Sackmaster 2000. I didn't watch the show. I gather that receiver training thing made it through. Is that right?

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 7:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
The first hour may have been a recap but they showed a few new things and it was pretty funny IMO.

I finally got around to watching the second hour. Yes the receiver training thing made it through.

I think the reason the sackmaster didn't make it was that he absolutely refused to try to develop the product any further. He did nothing to it. He didn't even spend the $50k that they gave him. So what was the point in them going further with it on the show?

The in-brella was a clever idea and she worked hard at it and spent as much time and money as she had but they just didn't get the prototype far enough along.

The football training tool guy, worked hard, listened to his design team and made the strongest strides in developing the product. The product actually looks good now. The only problem with it is that it has a limited market.

But I can see why they went with it over the other two.

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 7:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
I figured out a proto-type in my head where the tube of umbrella storer can be made of the same soft material as the umbrella, and can be collapsed close to the pole so as not to use up space while you are under the umbrella. Where do I send this idea?..LOL My idea makes it much thinner, but not shorter.

Fruitbat
Member

08-07-2000

Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 8:07 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Fruitbat a private message Print Post    
The sack master guy made a huge mistake, clearly. He became offended that his glory was not going to be saving lives when they suggested it could have more uses with some tweaking.

That is just silly. Sand bags don't save lives they protect property from flood damage. You don't stack them to the rafters and hole up inside. You make a dam around your house a few feet high to divert the water or pile them against the foundation.

I don't see any good invention here. I suspect the car seat will not work. Seems someone probably tinkered with this idea at some point. Infants are usually in rear facing seats anyway. When kids get older, and face forward, the floating seat would have to be way too big.

The bacteria reducing toilet seat could win, not because it is necessary, but comsumers buy anti germ products by the truck load. A recent experiment showed that toothbrushes in the kitchen had more bacteria than the bathroom. Nevermind the fact that the population has done just fine since the 1800's without it.

The bike has me puzzled. I missed the purpose of this. Anyone remember?

Jan
Moderator

08-01-2000

Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 8:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jan a private message Print Post    
was this the bike for kids who ride on handlebars? it has a seat on the handlebars and an extra set of pedals so they can be comfortable and help with the load (apparently lots of kids hop a ride on someone else's handlebars?)

Hummingbird
Member

08-21-2002

Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 11:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hummingbird a private message Print Post    
The bike looks dangerous.

Fruitbat
Member

08-07-2000

Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 11:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Fruitbat a private message Print Post    
It is billed as a double traction bike. I think there may be more to it than a new version of the bicycle built for two that Daisy rode. :-)

Ketchuplover
Member

08-30-2000

Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 12:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ketchuplover a private message Print Post    
double traction bike. now 2 people can end up in traction. BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nickovtyme
Member

07-29-2004

Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 8:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Nickovtyme a private message Print Post    
When I was a kid we would ride our bikes to school and it wasn't uncommon to offer to ride somebody home or part of the way home on the handlebars.

Glenrie
Member

03-24-2006

Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 8:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Glenrie a private message Print Post    
In the current days of suing over everything and anything, it doubt this could be manufactured. Encouranging kids to sit in front of the handlebars means one injury and lawsuit time.

Curlyq
Member

07-10-2002

Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 11:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Curlyq a private message Print Post    
The point of the bike was to give an option to families who can't afford to buy a bike for each kid. I know when I was growing up my family could only buy a bike for my brother, and us three girls were walking to school. I still don't know how to ride a bike.

Although I initially liked the Sackmaster (except for the name--too much like the Snackmaster sandwich maker of the 90's), I think it has about as much of a limited market as the football invention if not more so. How many kids' football teams are there in this country? About as many as there are schools, no doubt. If they can make that contraption in different sizes they can sell to all those teams. Maybe it can even be used in other sports that involve catching a ball. How many people live in areas that flood on enough of a regular basis that they'd go out and buy a sandbagging tool?

The inventor would've been wise to look at more uses for the Sackmaster to get ahead of the competition. There must be other uses for something that can scoop and bag in one maneuver. Now we see that something is already on the market that's more compact, and they're working on adding a strap and cap (to convert it to a carrying tool) as well. Even if he gets the Sackmaster into the stores it won't be hard for this other company to use that opportunity to promote their version.

I must've misunderstood the football guy. I thought he had the kids practicing with the original because he didn't want the only prototype to get broken. I didn't realize it was already broken.

I kept wondering if the inside-out umbrella would turn inside-out in a strong wind. I wonder if the umbrella companies like Totes will be working to come up with their own versions.

Glenrie
Member

03-24-2006

Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 11:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Glenrie a private message Print Post    
Here in Portland Ore. although real floods are rare, almost every year there is that threat and people are sandbagging. I would guess that every city that has a river running through it faces the same issues. Also, don't they use sandbags when fighting wildfires?

Ketchuplover
Member

08-30-2000

Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 4:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ketchuplover a private message Print Post    
(((CurlyQ)))

Ketchuplover
Member

08-30-2000

Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 6:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ketchuplover a private message Print Post    
I'm watching tonight because NBC isn't coming in well :-( I'm not enamored with any of these ideas.

Fruitbat
Member

08-07-2000

Friday, April 28, 2006 - 7:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Fruitbat a private message Print Post    
This show's format is peculiar. They have to win against two others, to get to the final 4. If they were up against others would they win? How is this preliminary grouping decided? Makes no sense.

That woman with the Niya doll and eerie song has given me the creeps since day one. What is up with her and that lack luster toy? And how did she make it this far? Her intense eyes and strange manner were a huge turn off. Talking dolls end up in the bottom of the toy box. And since when is a talking doll an invention. They have been around since the 50's.

I was surprised to see the portable gym get this far. You can pack an exercise band in your suit case and do enough until you get back home. Sit-ups, push-ups and some lunges would complete a reasonable travel workout.

I like the bike. I think it has several audiences. Parents with kids. Strap two on the back of your mini van for vacation. Inner city families that can only store one bike. Or just fun taking a tandem ride. It won't win but may get into production.

Apparently the remaining 6 will compete together and two will win? Do I have that right?

My guess: Flush Pure and the door clip will be the winners. The wig liner perhaps.

The car seat will prove to be too expensive to produce and only useful, if it works, for tiny infants.

The exercise belt is not unique enough to be the winner. This is a TV show that wants a piece of the action, but more so, something to remember that is quirky.

This show is almost good. Maybe next year it will be better.

Glenrie
Member

03-24-2006

Friday, April 28, 2006 - 11:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Glenrie a private message Print Post    
I could be wrong but I think we're having the same format next week. Three people competing against each other with one going to the final 4. It's just we're not going to see a form of the auditions again during the 1st hour so we'll have 2 shows of 3 competing.

Fruitbat
Member

08-07-2000

Friday, April 28, 2006 - 12:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Fruitbat a private message Print Post    
Thanks, that makes sense. Not much action in this thread today.

Glenrie
Member

03-24-2006

Friday, April 28, 2006 - 7:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Glenrie a private message Print Post    
I'm surprised. I was a bit misty eyed when Francisco(?) was put through to the final 4. Both he and his bike have won me over.

Ketchuplover
Member

08-30-2000

Friday, April 28, 2006 - 9:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ketchuplover a private message Print Post    
I think when that strap broke that guy got hit in the testicular region. That'll definitely take the wind out of your sails(and in this case sales).

Curlyq
Member

07-10-2002

Friday, April 28, 2006 - 9:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Curlyq a private message Print Post    
I felt bad for the guy with the weight set, just because I liked him and it meant so much to him.

The doll woman really did take hers to the next level and came up with a whole product line. It wasn't really an invention as much as a new product. I was just happy to see a line of dolls that don't look like prostitutes with enormous heads.

As both of these people walked away I wondered if they'll be allowed to keep what they created so far and continue developing it on their own, or does it become property of the show.

I didn't understand the one judge complaining that Francisco didn't make the detachable seat capable of attaching to other bikes. If he did that, then people wouldn't buy the bike he designed. They'd just buy the seat. This way he makes more money, right? He did a great job of making it look attractive and making it convertible.

Glenrie
Member

03-24-2006

Friday, April 28, 2006 - 10:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Glenrie a private message Print Post    
You actually make more money if you could buy the seat alone because you'd have an expanded market and potentially a very large one. There would be:

1. People who could afford to buy a seat but not a new bike.

2. People who liked their bike, didn't want to replace it, but wanted the seat.

3. People who wanted to buy the bike and seat together.

Curlyq
Member

07-10-2002

Friday, April 28, 2006 - 11:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Curlyq a private message Print Post    
Hmm. Yeah, I guess that does make sense, Glenrie. I wonder if for the final four they'll be given more money to finish developing it, or if they'll just be presented to the viewers as is for voting.

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 8:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Wouldn't it be more difficult to build it to attach to an existing bike? You'd have to fit a fairly wide variety of handlebars, or your market would still be limited.