|
|
|
June 14, 1999
Ideas, prototypes displayed at MICBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer REDWOOD FALLS -- Necessity, it is said, is the mother of invention. That philosophy was brought to life over the weekend as more than 2,000 people from all across the state and the country descended on Redwood Valley High School to see what types of inventions will help make their lives easier in the 21st century. The 42nd annual Minnesota Inventors Congress, held in conjunction with the 13th annual Student Inventors Congress drew inventors from all over the state and as far away as Birmingham, Ala. The theme of this year's congress was "A Century of Inventions" and was dedicated to the student inventors from throughout Minnesota. "We have been attending the congress for the past six years and we always have a great time seeing what people can come up with," Robert Lewiston of Duluth said. "It is amazing that after 41 years there are still a lot of items that can still be invented." One family, David and Janice Parker of Winona, and their children Alex, Stephen and Nathan, commented that this was their first visit to the Congress, but they had planned the visit to coincide with a trip through Laura Ingalls Wilder Country. "We saw an announcement about the Congress in Lamberton and decided it might be worth a side trip to see what this was all about," David said. "It is really interesting to see what a little imagination and a few resources can create." Melvin Wilkerson of Minneapolis was on hand to display and describe his invention, the Deluxe 2000 Shoe-Aid. "This device can help people put their shoes on without having to bend over," he said. "It is ideal for wheelchair-bound patients, or anyone who suffers from lower back pain." The device, looking like an overgrown shoehorn, is made of a lightweight and durable material with a 24-inch handle that is compact for easy storage and can be used with any size and style of shoe. Clarence Johnson of Minneapolis was on hand to describe his latest invention, known as a fish feeder, an automatic device consisting of a reservoir with an intake port, an air inlet port and a delivery port. "With this device people who keep tropical fish in aquariums at home will no longer have to open the lid of the tank to feed their fish," he said. "Thus they can keep the water cleaner and keep their fish safer in the process. The feeder will contain enough food for two weeks. It is good for people who are busy or who are on vacation and can't feed their fish." Another invention on display was the Tot (pronounced tote)-N-Shoot, a specially designed pouch to help hunters keep their guns upright while they are in the field. "With this device, the hunter always has his gun ready, and they can keep their arms free to help relieve fatigue," Darrell Ruesink of Red Wing said. "The pouch is made of durable, waterproof leather that can be adjusted to fit comfortably." Another inventor, John Kvidera of Blaine, was responsible for the Bike Caddy, a device that attaches to the back of a bicycle to make it easier for golfers to carry their clubs to the course. "The device is not designed for high speeds while biking or for use on dangerous terrain," he said. During the congress, Harold Fratke of Cottonwood, was awarded the F. Robert Starr Award for top invention displayed at the Congress. His invention, the Runabout, is a hand-powered three-wheeled cart with a swivel seat and a low center of gravity. There is also a basket for carrying a variety of items and the seat can be adjusted for comfort., Fratke stated. "This is an ideal way for elderly people to get exercise while going places, because there is no battery," he said. "The entire thing is completely hand-operated." The Congress maintains a learning resource center in Redwood Falls to provide prospective inventors with tips, information and ideas on how to develop their invention and how to begin the process of getting a patent. The staff, programs and resources at the center are funded through the Minnesota Legislature, who recently approved $70,000 worth of funding per year for the next two years. The state funding does not support the annual Congress.
|