Icelandic inventor Steinn Sigurdsson has discovered an accessory for vacuum cleaners, a vacuum cleaner trap called Visio Vac. The trap catches objects that otherwise would be sucked into the cleaner, such as earrings and rings.
Sigurdsson got the idea for the device a few years ago when his wife lost her wedding ring. Sigurdsson had to rummage through the garbage can to retrieve it, Morgunbladid reports.
The inventor got a patent for the vacuum cleaner trap in the US and Europe, started cooperating with a Danish and Swiss company and a German engineer, and then the Visio Vac was ready in 2002.
The device lets hair and dust pass through into the vacuum cleaner but catches larger objects, like coins, buttons and rings.
However, while Visio Vac has caught considerable attention all over Europe and in Australia—it was nominated for a designer award in Denmark—Sigurdsson has yet to find a vacuum cleaner manufacturer to cooperate on producing the device.
“My experience is that the development departments in the companies want to go for it but that the marketing departments don’t want to market any new products if they can avoid it,” Sigurdsson said.
“If they have to advertise a new device that does other things than people are familiar with, much convincing is needed for the marketing departments to jump on board,” Sigurdsson explained.
“They always want someone else to start advertising for them. The conglomerates are prepared to take the risk if the path has been cleared. Competition is hard and cost is always an issue,” the inventor concluded.
