Christmas Gift Guide

Yesterday I posted some great gifts to give your Dad this Christmas!

One of my emails today contained this great list of more presents for the D.I.Y. fiend in all of us!

Check it out here:

http://www.stuff.tv/christmas-gift-guide-12-gadgets-and-presents-diy-fanatics/feature?

Christmas Gifts for your Dad!

By Daniel Grosvenor

Christmas is not far off now, with just 22 days left to be able to buy those all important presents!

The hardest person to buy for though, has to be the Dad, the Father, the Daddy!

So what will you be buying your old man this Christmas? I put together a small list of presents that I think any Dad would love to unwrap on Christmas morning, some are practical while others are just a bit of fun! You'll also find some interesting facts to go alongside.

 The Grenadier Firelighter

Here is the clean simple way to light a solid fuel fire or BBQ. No matches, paper, sticks or smelly firelighters. Simply put your logs in the grate, position the Grenadier and switch on. As soon as the fire has ignited remove the safety key and the Grenadier will blow cold air into the fire, acting as bellows.

Did you know:  Firelighters have been evolving for years, some of the earliest patents for firelighting devices date back as early as the late 1800's, we have seen many other innovations in the field since then including the invention of the first lighter by Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner in 1823.


Exploding Clay Pigeon Targets 

Here's the perfect present for the Gun loving Dad! Designed for Clay pigeon or Air Rifle shooting these will certainly add another dimension to shooting creating an an even more thrilling experience. Definitely a must have 'Boy's Toy'.

The idea of exploding targets has been around for some time though, as shown by this patent that was in granted for a while back in the eighties, by inventor David Taylor.

Self Stirring Mug

Whether your Dad is lazy, a little geeky or just drinks far to much tea or coffee this product is perfect!
Strangely hypnotic to watch, your drink stirs itself, giving you time to grab some tasty treats to accompany your drink of choice. Not just a gimmick, the Self Stir Mug will stir any liquid from, tea to soup.
Simply press the thumb-friendly button at the top of the handle and watch as the battery-powered mug does all the stirring for you. 

The inventor of the stirring mug seems to be unknown, but there are patents dating back as far as 1993!


Bosch Surface Laser

Whether it's in the garden or laying new laminate, every Dad should have a laser level!
The Surface Laser can scan the entire floor within minutes instead of spot checks. Offering high accuracy for detecting uneven spots and with a remote control to enable the user to be close to the spot rather that the tool. If your Dad is a DIY fanatic then this is the one for him!

Did you know: Bosch have over 100 patents alone for products that assist in levelling with lasers!

Innovate love to see new products come to market and love even more helping inventors to bring their products to life. Assisting from initial idea submission, through patent and design protection, product design and patent application we have seen many products in the past make it to market!

So if you have any ideas for new products, in any sector, then let us know here via our info pack!

By Daniel Grosvenor

New Product Released

Innovate Client Vex Box has now launched 

Vex Box is a universal template for single or double socket boxes, providing a tidier and more efficient method of installation. Whether it’s new builds or refurbishments, the surrounding wall can be finished to a superior standard, as the product extends the box to be flush with the plasterboard. 

The Vex Box comfortably fits both single or double electrical socket boxes and is manufactured from V0 rated high impact polystyrene. Offering a handy depth guage for efficient installation with 2mm depth adjustments, the Vex Box is easy to use as well as being strong and durable once constructed. 

Vex Box came to Innovate in 2011 with simply an idea for an innovative product, Innovate assisted with a Worldwide Patent Search followed by Design and Visualisation of the product and Drafting of an initial UK patent application. 

Two years after the initial idea submission was made Vex Box has now launched and is available from www.vexbox.com in packs of 10 or 50.

Innovation of the Drill

By Daniel Grosvenor

Around 35,000 BCE, Homo sapiens discovered the benefits of the application of rotary tools. This would have simply consisted of a pointed rock being spun between the hands to bore a hole through another material.

Since then, the drill has gone through many changes.  

The Bow Drill came first and can be traced back over 10,000 years, soon followed the PumpDrill, thought to be invented during the Roman era. Many varieties of these existed and led at some point (though it is not known when) to the invention of the Brace and Bit, often known as an Auger. The auger used a helical screw blade, which can now be found on most drill bits.

The next great advancement in drilling technology, the electric motor, led to the invention of the electric drill. It is credited to Arthur James Arnot and William Blanch Brain of Melbourne, Australia who patented the electric drill in 1889.

With power being put in to the equation we can now find many varieties of drills on the market. Hammer Drills, Rotary Hammer Drills, Drill Presses, Mill Drills and most popularly, The Cordless Drill.

Now used in large numbers of industries, from builders to dentists, you would think that the drill had had its fair share of innovation.  You would be wrong.

Companies are regularly bringing out new and innovative drills, making them work more efficiently and effectively.

Panasonic’s latest drill the 7443 is an example of modern day innovation, featuring an innovative gear selection mechanism which changes to suit the load and application automatically, economising on time and power.

With innovation being a key factor in many drill manufacturers’ mission statements; I am excited to find out what will come about next.

If you’ve seen any great innovations in the drill sector then please do comment or let me know.

By Daniel Grosvenor