top of page

From Concept to Fruition


LIFE & COMMUNITY #1: FROM CONCEPT TO FRUITION

"I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success." – Nikola Tesla

When the Frisbee and the Hula Hoop came along did you think of “big bucks” and ask yourself, “Why didn’t I think of that?” How many of us have that kind of creative mind? Is it instinct or a cultivated skill? Like Professor Potts of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” fame, a lot of ideas just don’t work out. From concept to an actual working prototype is a long road fraught with stumbling blocks and failures. And staying optimistic about each setback is tough but essential for final success.

From an early age, Edmonds resident Bob Garnache began taking apart ordinary household items to see how they worked. His innate curiosity led him on a career path of mechanical variety. He worked at an electrical job, then heating and air conditioning, tire manufacturing and windshield and glass repairs. And while his hands worked tirelessly, his mind did too. Often someone would share with him a challenge they had. So when Garnache lay down at night to rest his body, his mind went on to fixing his friends’ problems. Could he design something to make a job easier or a given task more efficient?

Garnache’s free time became trial and error time; putting an object together and taking it apart until it was better than before. His friends and family gave him the time to create and an environment that encouraged him, even when results led to failure. And while there were disappointments, they served to drive him on. He would try to modify the design or discard it all and start again from scratch.

Garnache’s most recent invention, the Rib-O-Lator, took him three years to design, develop and test. It is a set of revolving trays that cook food rotisserie-style on your barbeque. The result is evenly cooked food with no burning. He took his invention to trade shows of big barbeque companies. Does it work like it is supposed to each and every time? He asked friends to test it and taste the results. And that was the best part!

When Garnache had a working model or prototype, he applied to the U.S. Patent Office. There is an initial fee that varies with the size and scope of your invention. The Patent Office can take up to three years to make a decision. And they say “no” more times than they say “yes.” Only when you are granted that patent can you begin to think of marketing your product. The price you decide to charge will reflect not only the cost of the raw materials and manufacturing for a mass market but also an annual maintenance fee charged by the patent office. As a rule-of-thumb, the cost to produce your item should be reflected as one-quarter of the price charged to the consumer.

Soon news of Garnache’s invention reached the producer of the “Rachael Ray Show,” which was airing a summer cooking segment. They asked Garnache to bring the Rib-O-Lator. Although it was a big expense at the time, Garnache traveled to the show and brought with him a Rib-O-Lator for each member of the audience. Garnache began to get that sweet smell of success. “And the rest is history…” seems like the line that should follow here. Is Bob now a millionaire? No, not yet, but watch this space for his name.

For others who want to try their hand at inventing, Garnache warned, “Don’t give up the day job!” He also advises inventors to talk to people about what they are looking for and what they would pay for a given product. Ask questions about your idea. Do they like it? Is it something they would buy? After all, your ideas are all great ones, right? So be realistic: Is it viable to consumers?

There are also online organizations that can help you get started on the right track. Garnache said to proceed slowly and cautiously with your plan and your money. And you will need a 3-D prototype to demonstrate your product and that prized patent number first.

So what is next for Garnache? A flat S-shaped metal object that can adapt any bungee cord to just the right size and stores the bungee, tangle-free for next time. This invention recently won Best New Product at the Las Vegas Hardware Show. And as he demonstrated the latest invention, Garnache proudly stated, “Made in the USA.”

Featured Posts
Recent Posts
Archive
Search By Tags
Follow Us
  • RSS Social Icon
  • Facebook App Icon
  • Pinterest Classic
  • Twitter App Icon
  • Google+ Social Icon
  • Instagram App Icon
  • blogIcon.png
  • YouTube Classic
bottom of page