The power of invention

Burnaby group may be the only remaining inventors' society in the country

Jennifer Moreau, Burnaby Now
Published: Saturday, April 11, 2009

What do the telephone, poutine, insulin and the retractable beer carton handle all have in common? They're all Canadian inventions. So too are the BlackBerry, the electric oven, five-pin bowling, the light bulb, standard time, the telephone, the Wonderbra and the zipper.

From instant replay to instant mashed potatoes, Canadian inventions have made their mark on history and their way into daily life. And local residents with bright ideas may be surprised to know that one of the only - if not the only - inventors' societies in the country convenes each month, right here in Burnaby.

"We are the only surviving inventors' society in Canada, as far as I know," says Maya Sinclaire, president of the B.C. Inventors Society.

The society draws about 30 to 60 people from all over the Lower Mainland to its monthly meetings. They exchange information and advice, listen to guest speakers and network. The purpose is to help inventors get from having an idea to a finished product. Sometimes they'll hold a show-and-tell session, where members present prototypes or products they've made.

But if you've got a brilliant idea sketched on a napkin, don't expect a quick fix.

"We have a lot of new people who come and expect to find all the answers in one meeting, which, of course, is impossible," Sinclaire says. "It takes a while to learn all the ins and outs."

Information gleaned from the group can save budding inventors lots of money, Sinclaire says.

Society members can also give referrals for trustworthy help. There are tons of people who offer assistance, but some are "like sharks," she warns, stealing ideas and copying inventions once they've proved profitable.

The inventing process can be expensive: research, patent applications, prototypes and lawyers can run from $20,000 up to $100,000, depending on the complexity of the idea. A simple invention and a friendly lawyer could cost as little as $15,000, Sinclaire says.

Patents are simply pieces of paper with limitations, she adds. If someone steals her idea, the ensuing legal battle could also get costly.

But inventors do it for love, not money.

"It's a passion. I don't know how many people really dream about making it rich," Sinclaire says. "You get the idea, and you can't stop thinking about it."

So, for those plagued with visions of contraptions, the society can help.

Take Alexander Suaste, for example. The Burnaby resident came up with an exercise device called the PowerPlane. It's like a mini seesaw with appendages that allow the user to assume just about any workout position. Suaste sells the PowerPlane for about $200 online and through Fitness Town, an exercise equipment retailer.

Suaste came up with the idea four years ago, and it took two years to get to a finished product. He joined the inventors' society six months ago.

"It's almost like a classroom, but at the same time it's like a networking place," Suaste says. "There are a lot of people out there that have great ideas, but they don't know how to go about it. ... It's good for other inventors to be encouraged."

Suaste's PowerPlane has yet to yield a return on his investment, but that's not discouraging him. He's working on an infomercial, and any money made gets reinvested in his business.

Sinclaire herself has a couple inventions under her belt. She came up with the AQUAblanket, a floating, foam blanket that keeps bath water warm.

But with doom and gloom headlines on the global economic crisis, is now the best time to be inventing? Sinclaire is not sure, but she does think Canada has an advantage.

"We cannot compete as a country," she says, adding countries like China can always compete with cheaper labour. "But we can compete with ideas."

Canada has a mix of different cultures and skills, she adds.

"That is a wonderful combo where we can come up with new ideas, and that could distinguish us from the world."

The next B.C. Inventors Society meeting is Wednesday, April 29, 7 p.m. at Confederation Centre, 4585 Albert St. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

Drop-in admission is $10, yearly membership is $45. See www.vancouver

inventor.com for more information.

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SOME TIPS FOR INVENTORS

- Sketch out and record your idea in a bound (not loose-leaf) notebook and date all entries. The information could be used to support a patent application.

- Make sure your idea is new. Search for similar products or patents online.

- Use materials such as wood or cardboard to make a prototype.

- Before blowing tons of money on a patent, make sure your invention will bring you a decent return, especially since the application process and lawyers can be costly.

- Treat your invention as a business, not an expensive hobby. Make a plan to recover your investment.

Alexander Suaste with his PowerPlane, an invention he's currently selling online and through Fitness Town, an exercise equipment retailer. Suaste belongs to the B.C. Inventors Society, which meets regularly in Burnaby. The group, which is one of the only remaining inventors' societies in Canada, helps people turn their bright ideas into marketable inventions.
Photograph by : Jason Lang/BURNABY NOW