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Local inventor’s product to launch at computer stores nationwide
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| Richmond inventor Gerald Anderson with LapTopProp invention. |
By DIANE TEZENO
Less than two years after being turned down as a contestant on American Inventors, an ABC reality TV show, Richmond resident Gerald Anderson launched his invention in the stores of a major computer retailer nationwide.
Called the LapTopProp, by Smart Business Concepts, a company owned and operated by Anderson, the product is a light-weight, portable acrylic stand designed to block the uncomfortable heat from laptops.
Additional design features of the product allow it to fold flat to fit in lap top bags, clear airport security and make lap top use easier on airplanes.
The LapTopProp is priced at $20 and is available at MicroCenter computer stores nationwide.
After being rejected by ABC show producers during the interview phase of the competition, Anderson continued to tinker with his product until he arrived at his current design, a sleek laptop holder made of a shatterproof acrylic and available in a range of colors, including red, black, green, white and clear.
“A lot of people liked the product, and the ergonomics of it, but didn’t like the appearance,” Anderson said.
With new product in hand, Anderson recently appeared on the Debra Duncan Show in a segment on local inventors.
The Richmond resident credits his current success in launching his product to his determination and tenacity.
“I am just a very persistent person, when people tell me no, to me it doesn’t mean no,” Anderson said.
“I look at the product, I look at the effort and I know if you work hard enough at anything eventually you can make it happen.”
Four years ago, Anderson began tinkering around in his Richmond area garage with the idea of developing a product that would allow laptops to be used with greater ease on airplanes.
A frequent air traveler, Anderson was frustrated by the inability to keep his laptop in an upright position when traveling.
“People fly and when they fly, often they encounter a problem when the person in the seat in front of them reclines their seat, it pushes the top of the laptop down,” Anderson said of the product in an earlier Fort Bend Sun interview.
Originally marketed under a different name, Anderson’s invention has gone through several design phases since its initial launch.
“The first one I made was two inches thick and had lots of screws to make it work, and about a year ago I figured out how to make it completely flat,” Anderson said.
A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, with a degree in industrial psychology, the Fort Bend area resident maintained his confidence in the value of his product despite naysayers.
The Richmond inventor conducted his own research, used an online computer CAD drawing program to design the original prototype for his product and filed his own patent.
“I’m not an expert, but I have done a lot of things that a lot of people would say couldn’t be done,” Anderson said.
He encourages that same persistence in other inventors.
“If you have an idea don’t give up, work hard, but work smart, don’t count on spending a lot of money up front and spend it very carefully.”
The sale of his product to one customer recently opened the door to a teaching opportunity for the Richmond resident and business owner.
“I sold one to a lady at a trade show with Houston Community College and she asked if I had ever considered teaching a business class,” Anderson said.
Anderson was offered an opportunity to teach a course on entrepreneurship geared to inventors at Houston Community College beginning in January.
“We will cover everything from how to begin the research process to how to take your product to market,” Anderson said of the course.
Anderson’s wife, Marcia Anderson, a local artist shared her thoughts on her husband’s invention.
“He has invented a lot of different things and I would ask him, “When are you going to finish this thing,” Anderson said.
The artist describes her husband‘s product as “the Rolls-Royce version of laptop stands.”
“It is flat, lightweight, clears airport security, can sit in your lap, it is made of one piece and very affordable,” said Anderson.
“It is really a lot of fun to see him be able to develop it from where it started,” Anderson said.
Several customers have also shared positive feedback on the Richmond inventor’s product.
“I have had some industry people say this is the next hoola hoop, because it is so simple, but yet does exactly what people need it to do and is very affordable,” he said.
Anderson designed his product with affordability in mind.
“Let’s face it, this time of year with the economy very weak, people are really looking for inexpensive gifts, they don’t want to spend $40 or $50 or more for a gift,” said Anderson.
Anderson is working on a version of his laptop stand for cars.
“A lot of people carry lap tops and they use them in their cars, and if you get a rental car you can’t attach anything to their dashboards or floors, so I am working on that,” Anderson said.
For more information, visit www.laptoplift.net or call 281-239-2811.
Called the LapTopProp, by Smart Business Concepts, a company owned and operated by Anderson, the product is a light-weight, portable acrylic stand designed to block the uncomfortable heat from laptops.
Additional design features of the product allow it to fold flat to fit in lap top bags, clear airport security and make lap top use easier on airplanes.
The LapTopProp is priced at $20 and is available at MicroCenter computer stores nationwide.
After being rejected by ABC show producers during the interview phase of the competition, Anderson continued to tinker with his product until he arrived at his current design, a sleek laptop holder made of a shatterproof acrylic and available in a range of colors, including red, black, green, white and clear.
“A lot of people liked the product, and the ergonomics of it, but didn’t like the appearance,” Anderson said.
With new product in hand, Anderson recently appeared on the Debra Duncan Show in a segment on local inventors.
The Richmond resident credits his current success in launching his product to his determination and tenacity.
“I am just a very persistent person, when people tell me no, to me it doesn’t mean no,” Anderson said.
“I look at the product, I look at the effort and I know if you work hard enough at anything eventually you can make it happen.”
Four years ago, Anderson began tinkering around in his Richmond area garage with the idea of developing a product that would allow laptops to be used with greater ease on airplanes.
A frequent air traveler, Anderson was frustrated by the inability to keep his laptop in an upright position when traveling.
“People fly and when they fly, often they encounter a problem when the person in the seat in front of them reclines their seat, it pushes the top of the laptop down,” Anderson said of the product in an earlier Fort Bend Sun interview.
Originally marketed under a different name, Anderson’s invention has gone through several design phases since its initial launch.
“The first one I made was two inches thick and had lots of screws to make it work, and about a year ago I figured out how to make it completely flat,” Anderson said.
A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, with a degree in industrial psychology, the Fort Bend area resident maintained his confidence in the value of his product despite naysayers.
The Richmond inventor conducted his own research, used an online computer CAD drawing program to design the original prototype for his product and filed his own patent.
“I’m not an expert, but I have done a lot of things that a lot of people would say couldn’t be done,” Anderson said.
He encourages that same persistence in other inventors.
“If you have an idea don’t give up, work hard, but work smart, don’t count on spending a lot of money up front and spend it very carefully.”
The sale of his product to one customer recently opened the door to a teaching opportunity for the Richmond resident and business owner.
“I sold one to a lady at a trade show with Houston Community College and she asked if I had ever considered teaching a business class,” Anderson said.
Anderson was offered an opportunity to teach a course on entrepreneurship geared to inventors at Houston Community College beginning in January.
“We will cover everything from how to begin the research process to how to take your product to market,” Anderson said of the course.
Anderson’s wife, Marcia Anderson, a local artist shared her thoughts on her husband’s invention.
“He has invented a lot of different things and I would ask him, “When are you going to finish this thing,” Anderson said.
The artist describes her husband‘s product as “the Rolls-Royce version of laptop stands.”
“It is flat, lightweight, clears airport security, can sit in your lap, it is made of one piece and very affordable,” said Anderson.
“It is really a lot of fun to see him be able to develop it from where it started,” Anderson said.
Several customers have also shared positive feedback on the Richmond inventor’s product.
“I have had some industry people say this is the next hoola hoop, because it is so simple, but yet does exactly what people need it to do and is very affordable,” he said.
Anderson designed his product with affordability in mind.
“Let’s face it, this time of year with the economy very weak, people are really looking for inexpensive gifts, they don’t want to spend $40 or $50 or more for a gift,” said Anderson.
Anderson is working on a version of his laptop stand for cars.
“A lot of people carry lap tops and they use them in their cars, and if you get a rental car you can’t attach anything to their dashboards or floors, so I am working on that,” Anderson said.
For more information, visit www.laptoplift.net or call 281-239-2811.
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