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.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I hate to be the one to break the news but the fall season is officially underway. Though this does mean we’re quickly barreling further away from sunshine and closer to snowfall, the season is not without its benefits.

There’s the beautiful foliage peppering the trees with all sorts or color, weekend football games, fashionable fall jackets and two of my personal favorite holidays – Halloween and Thanksgiving. And perhaps most importantly, there’s the INPEX Fall Special.

With the Fall Special, inventors can save 10% on booths at the 2009 Invention and New Product Exposition (INPEX) now through the end of October. By purchasing a booth during this promotion, you not only guarantee yourself a spot to display your invention or new product at InventHelp’s 2009 INPEX Invention Show, but you also save a little green in the process (something everyone is looking to do these days).

To take advantage of the INPEX Fall Special, please fill out our online information request form or call 1-888-55-INPEX. Remember, there’s only a couple more weeks to get this offer and then, like the warm weather, it’ll be gone.

And don’t forget to grab a light jacket and enjoy the fall season!!

Hello again inventors and entrepreneurs,

Though it may seem a ways off at this point, 2009 will be upon us quicker than you think (just look how fast 2008 has gone so far!). And, if you have an invention or new product, it’s never too early to start planning for InventHelp’s 2009 INPEX Invention Show.

To give inventors more information about the show, INPEX produces an Exhibitor Brochure each year. This brochure provides basic info about the show (i.e. – dates, times, location) as well as a more in-depth overview of some of INPEX’s staple events and resources. The 2009 brochure is currently available to download.

Anyone interested in exhibiting at INPEX should check out this brochure to learn more about what INPEX has to offer inventors and new-product marketers. It includes details on the INPEX Inventor’s University, our resource center and expert pavilions, corporate product reviews, trophies, medals and other prizes, show publicity, and more.

Of course, if you don’t feel like reading the brochure, and would rather get the information from the horse’s mouth, you can also give us a call at 1-888-54-INPEX.

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.