Some of the best ideas and inventions in the world were created by normal ordinary people. These independent inventors decided to figure out how to take an idea out of their head and show it to the world.

In 1992, a man, by the name of Ron Druben, watched a couple kids play in the park. He watched them tickle one another and wondered if the giggle could be put in the belly of a toy. Tickle Me Elmo was born.

In 1963, Tom Sims at the age of 13, made what he called a “Skiboard,” for his seventh grade wood-shop class by combining his two favorite sports at that time, skiing and skateboarding, while in junior high at Haddonfield Central School in New Jersey. The snowboard was born.

In 1853, George Crum, was a chef who had an order of his French-fried potatoes sent back into the kitchen because a customer thought they were to thick and soft. George wanted to play a prank on the patron and sliced a potato really thin and fried it to a crisp. He sent the order back to the table and was shocked when everyone loved it. The potato chip was born.

These are just three examples of how inventions are born.  Here is a list of more independent inventors and their products:

7-UP (Charles Leiper Grigg)
Apple computer (Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak)
ATM (Luther Simijian)
Barbie doll (Ruth Handler)
Beanie Babies (Ty Warner)
Coca-Cola (Dr. John S. Pemberton)
Crayola crayons (Edwin Binney & Harold Smith)
Gatorade (Robert Cade, M.D.)
George Foreman grill (Michael Boehm)
G.I. Joe (Stanley Weston)
KOOL-AID (Edwin Perkins)
Nerf ball (Reynolds Guyer)
Nike shoe (Bill Bowerman)
Paint Roller (Norman Breakey)
Pepsi-Cola (Caleb Bradham)
Silly Putty (Peter Hodgson)
Tickle Me Elmo doll (Ron Druben)
Vicks VapoRub (Lunsford Richardson)

An independent inventor is someone who sees a problem and fixes it or just has an idea that they want to see in the world. If you or anyone you know has a great idea and you need help getting it to market, please contact us at New Product Consulting.