Necessity Was the Father of Invention
Inspiration can strike anywhere at any time, but it’s especially likely to arise from pain.
“I have a 4-year-old son, and I was always picking up the teething toys that he dropped. My back was hurting, and that gets old!
And that’s why Frank Williams, an exterminator in the Queens/Staten Island borough office, came up with the idea to invent a teething glove and mitten: “I thought to myself, what are kids always putting in their mouths? Their hands! So my teething toy has teething bumps all over it, from the wrists to the top of the fingers. There’s a toy at the wrist for the child to play with while they’re teething. They’ll never drop it! And it’s hypoallergenic.”
As with anything worth pursuing, the product has been a work in progress since the light bulb went off for Mr. Williams in 2014.
“It’s been a long process. I’m working with the Invents company. They’re very hands on, helping me every step of the way. I first came up with the design. Then Invents came up with a 3D brochure and a 3D digital model, which I approved,” he explained. “Next they developed a list of companies who might be interested in licensing the product, like Mattel and Gerber. Invents also created and aired a commercial for manufacturers on the West Coast. I received my preliminary patent this past June. The next step is to talk to all the companies on the licensing list.”
Mr. Williams believes that perseverance and support are vital for any inventor: “If you think of something, no matter what it is, stay focused and don’t let anyone turn you away. I had people say my idea was stupid, that nobody would buy that, but I didn’t let that deter me. No idea is a stupid idea. And it’s good to have someone in your corner who believes in you as much as you believe in yourself – that will help you get a lot accomplished.”
