The FireLight Company Story

Chapter 1

"Two Burning Dogs"

     Our story begins in a small house in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. A vacation destination for most, for us it's home. One of my sons lives nearby in a house best described as a "ski chalet". It is an 'A'  frame house with an open floor plan and a vaulted ceiling everywhere but the bathroom and two bedrooms. Anyway...

     About a year or so ago, one of my sons turned 21. Like anyone who hits this milestone, he threw a party. Needless to say much legal drinking happened. One of his guest was a little too drunk to let go home so my son made him spend the night on the couch. In the middle of the night his guest woke up hungry, he took two left over hot dogs and put them into a pot of water and went to watch some tube while the dogs cooked. He fell back to sleep. The water boiled out and the hot dogs burned filling the house with smoke. The smoke detectors went off and woke everyone to a house filled with smoke. They put out the small fire and began to open windows and doors to alleviate the smoke.

     The next day my son called and asked me to stop by and asses the damage. When I arrived the house still smelled of smoke and there was a smoke film all over everything. I sat on his couch realizing a paint job of the entire house was going to be necessary. I noticed a window located high above the front door of the house. Smoke rises... let's open the window. We got a ladder and climbed up to open it. As I was climbing the ladder, the thought occurred to me "What if there was an exhaust fan of some kind in that window that the smoke detector could activate and begin to remove the smoke?" Could something like that be made?  I was sure the technology existed, it just hasn't been applied this way. I began to check it out.

     After some preliminary investigating I discovered that no such device existed. I told my wife about the idea. She said "You know if you could turn on a fan in a fire, you could turn on the lights too." ...BRILLIANT! I began to check the feasibility of just such an item. We hired an engineer and had a prototype made. We put them in our home and they worked great. We now had a potentially low cost way to aid in reducing the panic people get into when a fire strikes at night. 

 

Chapter 2

 "Learning the Game"

     What do you do with a good idea? You first make sure it is in fact your idea. How do you do this? A patent search to be sure. A quick thing to do before you bother with a patent search is to go on line and Google search for your idea. Maybe take the time to search retail outlet web sites like WalMart. If your idea is not a retail store type thing, go to a relative search.

     I did a patent search on line. You don't have to spend all that dough with an attorney but that is still the surest thing. You can do the search yourself if you got the patience. Did I say patience? I meant to say the endurance, anyway thats what you gotta do if you believe in your product.

     Found out I had an original. Sent $100.00 to our government to protect my idea with what they call a provisional patent. The idea is now mine and protected by United States of America. Now all I had to do was get one made and convince people with the resources to help make them and sell them. Cha-ching!!!!

     My sister tells me about a t.v. show she had seen called American Inventor. She said it was a show for people to present their original ideas and maybe win  $1 MILLION !!! I thought "This is a no brainer... who wouldn't spend few dollars on something that may help save their lives." It's simple, and should be eveywhere... they want exposure and I want the money. This will work out great.

Chapter 3

"American Inventor Audition"

      I went online and found the American Inventor site and discovered they were looking for inventors. It was still months away, but that would just allow me to get ready. A presentation. A prototype.

     I found an engineer in a nearby town who said he'd make the two prototypes of the two units we chose for about $2,000.00. A lot of money to borrow but not a lot if we can convince people this thing would work. Show me... don't tell me. I believed if I had one, I could sell one. Over and over and over. I could sell this.

     The day the prototype came I was stoked. It wasn't exactly what we wanted, but it clearly showed the high points of concept. It was the Home Emergency Lighting Protection or The H.E.L.P. It plugged in the wall. We set off the smoke detector 2 rooms away and Ta-Da! The built in lights went on. We plugged a night light into it and Ta-Da! it went on when we tested the Co2 detector. The FireLight Safety Switch was the second prototype. It too, preformed perfectly. I was dreaming of fishing forever. The American Inventor auditions were in a week. We were getting close. I was looking forward to Doug Hall's evaluation of our idea. He was the only judge last season on the show who was actually qualified to judge an invention.

      It rained and was cold the day we stood in line on the streets of downtown Manhattan. We had to take a bus to get there because parking would cost a week's pay. We arrived around 6 a.m. The line was already long. We were about 4 blocks from the actual audition site. We were tired and miserable because of the weather conditions for which we were not prepared. There were no toilet facilities that the crowd of applicants could use. Thank God I was able to convince a guy in a nearby building to allow me, my wife and the two of our children that were able to come with us to use there toilet. This was of course if we kept it on the Q.T.

      The mood on line was good despite the weather. New Yorkers tend to bond together when they're in the same boat. By 8 a.m. it even became more of a block party atmosphere. Someone on line shouted "Hey, is this American Inventor or American Survivor!" This brought a roar of laughter. Every now and then the staff from American Inventor would come out with the cameras to take video of us on line. Like true Americans we would ham it up. People were saying that Simon Cowell should send some coffee for the crowd, God knows he's got the dough. He didn't. I guess that's why he's got the dough.

          We saw all kinds of goofy things that people dragged down to make their fortunes. One guy had a car door on a dolly for a remote door opening device. Don't we have them already? One guy had a bicycle contraption that had what looked like a salad bowl with a dome on it. It was a game he told me. He tried to demonstrate it but the weather had taken it's toll on his toy. Some people thought their ideas were so valuable that they wouldn't reveal what it was. Ooooo mysterious. One guy had what he called the "Bubble Bike". Just like it sounds, it was a bicycle that shot bubbles out. A lot of people had exercise equipment. Funny, not one of them were in shape and most of the devices looked like they just may kill you. But on the other hand...

     We saw a lot of genuinely good and innovative ideas. The shame is the people at American Inventor are a reality show and they want good t.v. ahead of a good idea. Let me say this now and clear. America, Do not think for a moment that what you see on American Inventor is a fair and accurate depiction of what Americans can come up with. In the 2 days we spent in our adventure with American Inventor I personally saw many fantastic ideas. They are absolutely more interested in the t.v. end  than the possibility of furthering some inventive hopeful with an idea that could do good. If you weren't "camera friendly" you weren't in. If you didn't have a sob story, you weren't in. If you didn't do jumping jacks for the camera, you weren't in. Now I'm not faulting the show. No. I know they have a job to do. Get ratings. Truthfully, although many great ideas were presented, they just didn't have TV-ability. What they think America wants.

     Over the course of our 2 day involvement with the show, we saw many great ideas not even make it through the 1st round. Sad.

      To make a long story short, we made it through the first two rounds and were told to come back in two days (wearing the same clothes) to meet the celebrity judges. Damn it! Doug Hall wasn't even a judge this year! Consolation was I 'd get to meet George Foreman, helluva boxer but not an inventor. We came, they saw, we weren't selected. I had a problem with one of the judges (that 76ers guy) who continually said "...but I have a smoke detector..." In retrospect I think he was egging me on to freak out for the camera. I sorta did. It infuriated me that he didn't understand. I had given my same demonstration to the dumbest sons of  bitches I could muster to make sure I had it right. No kidding. Anyone. Any age. Any demographic. All understood. Embarrassed with myself and wondering were I went wrong, I left the stage. The final vote was 2 to 2. I of course needed 3. 

                                                     Chapter 4

"The Big Idea Group"

       I found a web site called The Big Idea. They (if your selected) would help get you a licensing deal for your invention. This translates to- they will find the people with the ways and means who will produce, market and sell your dream.  I would wind up with about 6%-10% or so. Still, 10% of something or 100% of a dream.  A percent of something is better than all of nothing.

       They have one of their "Road Shows" in New Jersey. They invited me down a day early along with one or two other people who seem to have exceptional ideas. We go to New Jersey, we give our presentation. They love it. They said and I quote "This is a no-brainer"..."I'd buy that"  They said we be in touch.

        We were seeing stars. They made us feel great. He said not to spend any more money on the idea. They will sell it and all I have to do is sign royalty checks. Finally!!! Success!!!

        Two weeks later they contacted me to say..."although your idea for The FireLight Safety Switch is we believe a great idea...we do not currently have a client type in the fire safety field...blah...blah...blah. We will keep you in mind...blah...blah...blah... Translation= don't quit your day job.

        We did, however, get ourselves into the New York Daily News. Ah! Sweet exposure! 

 

  Chapter 5

"Idea Next Step"

         Back before American Inventor I had found a web site called Idea Next Step. I entered my gizmo's into the running. I admit I had forgotten entirely about it when I received an email informing me I had made the "Top Ten" on their web site's contest. Hey, great. I entered 2 ideas and both made the top 10. Then I got an email that said I'm in the final two. Me and a guy with a stove guard. I lost by 5 votes and because of my lack of ability on the computer to figure out how the hell to vote. Anyway, we came in runner-up and won $79.55!!! Income at last!!!

 

"Idea Next Step cont'd"

         Because I was runner-up in July's contest,I was entered into the August contest. This time we WON!!! The grand total of our prize was $502.55!!! (more income at last!)  I recommend this site to any hopefuls out there with a good idea. Thanks to everyone who took the time and money to vote for The FireLight Safety Switch. Closer and closer to market.

           Read All About It!!! Our local newspaper The Pocono Record ran a story about our win in the Idea Next Step competition. It was like having a free 1/2 page add on page 3!!!  Can you say E-X-P-O-S-U-R-E!

 

 

 Chapter 6

 "Eureka! Doug Hall"

                Throughout this story I have mentioned Doug Hall a bunch of times. He was a judge on American Inventor 1 (the first season). When I was to appear on the show, I went online to find all the video I could as I had never seen the show before. After a couple of hours of  videos I was impressed with the fact that Doug actually came down off the judges "pedestal" and fiddled with or played with the inventions. After reading his bio, I was more impressed. This is a self made actual inventor. No kidding! On American Inventor! I really wanted this guys impression of my idea. I looked forward to meeting him on the show. Just my luck, he wasn't a judge on season 2.

                 When Idea Next Step said he was a guest judge and I was in the finals, I thought, alright! Doug's view at last. It didn't happen though. Doug was out of reach during the judging. Now I was determined to get his opinion. The hunt for Doug Hall was on.

                  As it turned out, it was easy to contact him at his website  Eureka! Ranch. (Check this link for his review) I wrote a blog about the fact I'd missed him twice and he replied. To paraphrase he said "I like your idea better than the fireman who won on season 2 of American Inventor." He asked great questions and gave me good advice. Thanks Doug!

 

 

 Chapter 7

 "Speaking of Bouncing Brains..."

                 There is a t.v. show called "Everyday Edison" on P.B.S.. They are having open calls for inventors. We are going to the Windy City (Chicago) soon to enter our idea. It turns out the P.B.S. show is produced by Bouncing Brain Productions...and Doug Hall's website is also a Bouncing Brain Production ...hmmmmmm. I guess we'll see what's what soon.

to be continued...

 

 " No Brains...No Bounce ..."

                        We went to Everyday Edisons in Chicago and presented our idea once again. The experience was great. There were a lot more people than I had thought there would be but not the zoo New York and American Inventor was. There was about 2000 people with ideas. It could be a little less.The staff who ran the open auditions were proffessional and sharp. Everything went as smooth as something that big could.

                  I wasn't feeling well and my energy level was low. I wasn't disheartened, I was sick. I went before the board to give my demonstration and even with my inner salesman out to lunch, I made it through to the second round. In the second round your being filmed and the judges are VIP's from various ends of marketing and production of inventions. You may think the cameras, the lights and all the action would've gotten me juiced or at least nervous? No. I was flat and even bored myself  BUT  I got a unanimous "yes" to go to the big finale! The big finale happens in a board room somewhere. All the contestants that got the nod are reviewed and narrowed down to I think 12 winners. The winners get to have their dreams come true by going to market with their invention. They pay the tab. You work hard with the help of the industry's best, get rich and go fishing for the rest of your life.

                    I really want to go fishing....