Here’s a riddle for everyone: what do INPEX, “Police Academy”, Mac computers and the MTV Video Music Awards have in common? The answer: they’ll all be turning twenty-five in 2009.

Yes, it’s hard to believe but, much like those 1980s staples, the Invention and New Product Exposition (INPEX) will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009! That’s a quarter of a century of bringing inventors and companies together!

Since INPEX’s formative years during the Reagan administration, we’ve added features like the Inventor’s University, to help educate inventors on the business side of inventing; Product Reviews, allowing inventors to pitch their new product ideas to company or expert panels; even boxing matches sponsored by Everlast®!

While a lot has changed in America since the year “The Cosby Show” premiered and the L.A. Raiders won the Super Bowl, our commitment to assisting inventors in spreading the word about their inventions and new products hasn’t changed a bit. We’re working just as hard as we did back in 1984 to make INPEX the best it can be (only difference: we don’t listen to Duran Duran while we work anymore).

We invite all inventors and entrepreneurs to join us in celebrating InventHelp’s 25th annual INPEX Invention Trade Show June 24-26, 2009 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh. You can request more information about exhibiting at INPEX 2009 or call us at 888-54-INPEX.

Did you exhibit at the INPEX ‘84? If so, grab your latest invention and exhibit again – you’ll be truly amazed at how the show has evolved!

At InventHelp’s 2007 Invention and New Product Exposition (INPEX), a nine-year-old boy surprised everyone by being named Second Runner-Up for the Grand Prix Award – INPEX’s top prize. That young man, Tharon Trujillo of Sacramento, Calif., not only left INPEX 2007 with a cash prize and a handful of medals, but also a bright future as an inventor ahead of him.

I’m happy to report that Tharon has continued to build on the potential he showed at INPEX. Just last month, he displayed his invention the Lock N Block sliding door gate (the same invention he brought to INPEX) at the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he took home yet another award. Tharon was named one of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) Innovation Award Winners.

Tharon’s invention is a gate that gets positioned on a sliding door track and prevents toddlers and pets from breaking through the screen. Tharon came up with the idea for the Lock N Block after his then-7-month-old sister pushed out the sliding-door screen at his family’s home. Not long after, Tharon and his dad went to work constructing the prototype they would ultimately exhibit at InventHelp’s Invention Show.

INPEX congratulates Tharon on his recent accomplishment and wishes him the best of luck in his continuing endeavors! As a trade show director, there’s nothing I love more than hearing about former INPEX exhibitors persisting in moving their new product ideas forward. I enjoy passing along these updates and hope they provide other exhibitors and inventors with a little bit of inspiration and encouragement.

The Korean Invention Promotion Association (or KIPA) is an organization that’s been around for more than 25 years. KIPA works to promote intellectual property, expand patent management and strengthen the industrial competitiveness of Korea.

Representatives from KIPA visit InventHelp’s INPEX Invention Show annually and even award a number of special prizes to exhibitors. At this year’s show, the good people from KIPA handed out awards to five different INPEX inventors. Here are the 2008 KIPA Special Prize winners:

M.H. Ruslan, M.Y. Othman, K. Sopian, A.M. Zafri - Malaysia
Advanced Solar Assisted Heat Pump Dryer with Multifunctional Solar Collector”

Liao, Yin-His - Taiwan
“Slide Down Device: “Sitgood” High-rise Emergency Escape Device”

Wang Cheng-Chi and Chung Min-chi
“Electrical Dynamic Swing Measurement of Golf Club”

Cheng Yung-chu - Taiwan
“Long-Lasting Fragrant Diamond Shape Face Mask”

Daniel Capperrune - USA
“The Cageless Cage”

Mr. Capperrune, an inventor from Illinois, received the KIPA Special Prize for his patented invention, “The Cageless Cage™”, an innovative animal restraint. Capperrune was inspired to invent “The Cageless Cage” based on experiences with his own canines.

“My dogs always attempted escaping from the bath tub during bathing and this concept came to mind to solve this problem in a very unique way,” he said. 

“The Cageless Cage” effectively keeps pets in designated areas without giving the animals the sensation they are trapped. And since the device is different from bulky cages, it’s easier to transport. Capperrune even notes that his invention can be made in various sizes for different users – including home owners, groomers, veterinarians, kennels, and more.

Kudos to Daniel Capperrune and all the KIPA Special Prize winners! And an extra-special thank you to KIPA for its continued support of InventHelp’s INPEX Invention Show!!

While many awards are handed out each year at InventHelp’s Invention and New Product Exposition (INPEX), unfortunately, not every exhibitor can take one home. Due to the vast number of inventions on display at INPEX, our international jury of judges has a very difficult time choosing winners each year. But for those inventions that come very close to award consideration, or those exhibitors who work hard to encourage and inspire other inventors, INPEX hands out a number of merit awards.

INPEX merit awards are given to inventors who make a deep and positive impression on our judges, staff and their fellow exhibitors. These inventors represent the enthusiastic and innovative spirit we love to see at INPEX. At InventHelp’s 2008 INPEX show, nearly 50 different merit awards were handed out to inventors from across the globe.

Broken down by country, 42 of those medals were presented to international exhibitors – which includes inventors spread out over Croatia, Malaysia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia, Korea and Taiwan. Of course, that leaves eight exhibitors from the United States who took home merit awards. And those winners were:

Serena Egigian – “Arctic Décor Insulated Wall Covers”

Mark Vollmar – “Ceiling Toys”

Travis Peres – “Quix Bottle”

Michael McMahon - “AFAB”

Rosemarie Maalouf – “Smarty Smart Sticks”

Martin Hathaway - “Windproof Umbrella”

Charles Monocavage – “Picnic Cooler”

Arthur McMillan – “Earthship”

Congratulations to all our 2008 Merit Award winners!! You can view a full list of INPEX 2008 Merit Award winners from around the world on the INPEX Web site.

The definition of “excellence” I feel exemplifies what our judges look for in the recipient of the INPEX Award of Excellence:

excellence n. – possessing good qualities in high degree

Each year, the INPEX Award of Excellence is given to an exhibitor who not only conceives an innovative idea but also possesses good qualities in high degree as an inventor and human being. At INPEX 2008 this year, that exhibitor was:

Gary Copus,
San Joaquin, Calif.

Gary is the brains behind Copus Industries LLC, a sheet metal fabrication and manufacturing company committed to excellence and driven by charity. At INPEX 2008, Gary exhibited the “Rollerboard Load Handler”, a device that makes loading and unloading pickup trucks and SUVs easier.

Made of steel, the product fits most full-sized standard bed pickup trucks and large SUVs with tailgates. A person first places the invention into the back of a truck or SUV, then loads cargo on top of it. When an individual gets to the unloading area, he or she simply opens the tailgate and rolls out the cargo.

Gary hopes his invention can help people avoid injuries like the neck and back pains he suffered from regularly loading and unloading his pickup truck. He even puts his invention to use on a daily basis. “I use it for going to the dump yard and for rose bush clippings and groceries. It never leaves my vehicle,” he said.

INPEX thanks and congratulates exhibitor Gary Copus for his continual pursuit of excellence!