The Inventors' Stories

The most interesting characteristic of the inventor is that there is no single characteristic that defines them all. Each has his own unique traits and history that played a part in the unique contribution each made to the industry. Following are the stories of the inventors who participated in PCT’s articles and their inventions:

Inventor: Mike Masterson

Invention: Termiscope

Company: 633 Envisions, Covina, Calif.

Web site: www.termiscope.com

What it is: A multi-functional visual termite monitoring system. Termites that infiltrate the monitor activate the florescent green "visual alert," which indicates activity and a need for treatment.

The story behind it: Masterson wanted to make people’s lives easier and help technicians make more money, technicians whom he often saw coming in from having performed termite work complaining about their backs. So he came up with the Termiscope. It works on the concept of the Butterball turkey doneness indicator, a concept for which people are already conditioned. When the tube pops, it’s time for treatment.

Words of wisdom: "Always listen to your clients. They have more great input than anyone else; they are your best asset."

Inventor: Tom Schurmann

Invention: Stainless Steel Compressed-Air Tank Sprayers

Company: Professional Dispensing Systems, Lakewood, Colo.

Web site: www.pdsweb.net

What it is: A compressed-air tank sprayer with parts that are impervious to most chemicals. It can be pressurized to 125 psi, enabling complete emptying without repressurizing.

The story behind it: Schurmann was totally and completely frustrated. He had tried every sprayer on the market but found that the chemicals kept breaking them down. He was doing so much rebuilding that he was buying parts in bulk. Then Schurmann got "a deal" on 60 soda tanks. After a bit of trial and error, he reconstructed the tanks into high-end compressed-air sprayers — able to run until empty on a single charge. First manufacturing them only for his automotive detailing business, Schurmann began to get requests for the tank, and soon realized that he had a marketable product. Schurmann now sells the tank to a variety of industries, just recently getting into the pest management market.

Words of wisdom: "I try not to say no. If someone has a legitimate request, I try to craft a product to fit the need."

Inventor: Lyle Townsend

Invention: Rodent Rock

Company: J.L. Innovations, Kenmore, Wash.

Web site: www.rodentrock.com

What it is: A bait station that simulates a landscape rock and "becomes" part of the habitat. This allows the pest control operator to set the bait station where it is needed without affecting the aesthetics of the landscape.

The story behind it: Townsend had a famous client with landscaped property of several acres on which he was having rodent problems. Townsend told him he would need 250 bait stations to cover the property, to which the customer replied, "That’s OK, as long as I can’t see them." So Townsend hid stations within the landscaping; but after the third architectural change at which stations were "lost" each time, he thought there had to be a better way. So he built a paper maché rock the size of a bait station and set it in the open. When the customer didn’t notice it while standing right next to it, Townsend knew he had a winning product and went on to prototype and patent his invention.

Words of wisdom: "Produce your product in the U.S. Unless you are a very big corporation with very deep pockets, offshore is generally not a good move. Just because the price is cheaper doesn’t mean it’s better."

Inventor: Mark Ravenelle

Invention: KABA (Keeps All Birds Away)

Company: KABA Corporation, Merrimack, N.H.

What it is: An easy-to-install, electrified bird-control system for placement on external structures. What makes it unique is its ability to conform to various shapes while remaining almost undetectable.

The story behind it: Ravenelle recognized that there were inherent problems with bird control on outdoor signage that was not being adequately met. None of the products on the market could conform well to the irregular shapes of billboards and similar signage without affecting the aesthetics. Determining that the key to a successful system was electricity, Ravenelle devised a prototype of his idea. After testing and improvements, the product was brought to market and is succeeding to "Keep All Birds Away."

Words of wisdom: "It’s up to you to make your invention usable and useful."

 

Inventor: Jim Dreisacker

Invention: BatCone

Company: Westchester Wildlife,

Brewster, N.Y.

Web site: www.batcone.com

What it is: A "cone" that is fitted over bat entry holes, which enables the bats to depart through the hole but prevents their re-entry.

The story behind it: Dreisacker has been in wildlife control for more than 23 years, with a strong emphasis on bats. Through the years, he tried and tested a number of bat-removal devices, never finding one that provided a complete solution. Because he deals mostly with bat holes, Dreisecker knew that the key to control was getting the bats to come out of the building harborage sites while disabling their re-entry. He first "played around" with a caulking tube, then created a PVC pipe-based unit that fit over the holes but restricted re-entry. When he found that the product was working, he began working with manufacturers to create a more professional unit that he could market to help fellow pest management professionals.

Words of wisdom: "I’m not just selling the product, I’m selling the knowledge of how to use the product."

Inventor: William Earl and Michael DeGinto

Inventions: Squirrel Evictor, Rodent Evictor

Company: Evictor Products, Norristown, Pa.

Web site: www.squirrelevictor.com

What it is: A strobe-light unit installed in areas rodents are harboring. The strobe annoys the animal so it leaves the area and does not return.

The story behind it: Earl had just left the home of a customer who was having problems with squirrels damaging her roof. Frustrated, he banged his hands on the steering wheel, praying, "God, isn’t there something you can do help these people!" At that moment, an idea flashed into his mind. He called DeGinto, who listened, had a similar flash of "divine inspiration" and knew exactly how the unit should be built.

Words of wisdom: "We developed the Evictor to help people. There was a real need for it."

Inventor: John Happ

Invention: Apicide

Company: Purchased by Mystic Chemical, Cleveland, Ohio

Web site: www.apicide.com

What it is: A free-flowing dust formulation with 5 percent carbaryl for treating in-ground and wall-void nests of bees, wasps and yellowjackets.

The story behind it: Apicide had been on the market for several years, but when Ficam was withdrawn, Mystic Chemical Owner John Gedeon saw potential and expanded the product’s registration and marketing to cover an increased range of the U.S. Apicide’s sales took off because of its ability to provide a non-repellent option for stinging insect control.

Words of wisdom: "Today, with the Internet, the world is your oyster. It has such a wide reach."

Inventor: Ethan Vickery

Invention: EZ-Strike Fly Bait Station

Company: VM Products, Euless, Texas

Web site: www.vmproducts.com

What it is: A tamper-resistant fly bait station constructed in medical-grade plastic. Its compounded metal flake colorant allows light into the station and provides maximum contrast of colors. With a locking, sliding tray to contain the bait, the station enables food plants to meet USDA requirements.

The story behind it: When in the field, Vickery saw PCOs putting fly bait "in all kinds of things" and realized that there was a need for a tamper-resistant station that would protect bait from the elements, and not allow wind and rain to carry it to areas it could be tracked into a food plant.

Words of wisdom: "A patent is about an idea. If you tell someone your idea, they will own it too and you may have to prove it was yours first."