1993

The Problem

When my father had a valuable garden ornament stolen from his lawn, I wanted to ensure that such an incident could never happen again so decidedto investigate security and anchoring solutions to meet that need.

I reasoned I should look for some kind of invisible, tamper-proof system so that burglars or thieves couldn't easily unbolt, saw through or cut whatever would be holding down the secured object.

I also wanted to use concrete as a foundation but not have the hassle of having to dig up or excavate the concrete if dad ever moved house or needed to remove secured object(s) for maintenance or repair.

However, when I searched the DIY stores and locksmiths for a suitable invisible, tamper-proof anchoring / security solution, I soon realised that no such system existed.

I would have to invent one!

The Solution

I solved the problem when I remembered a story about how African tribesfolk used an ancient method to catch monkeys.

They would place fruit in a hollow tree and wait for a monkey to find it.

A monkey would arrive, put its hand inside the hole and grab the fruit.

In grabbing the fruit, its balled fist would then be too large to come out of the hole and, unwilling to let go of its prize, the Greedy Monkey would stay there until the hunters arrived.

It was trapped!

The Mechanism

My patented Gravity Technology uses a similar principle.

A ball - to represent the fruit, a patented chamber - to represent the hole in the tree, and a patented fastener - to represent the monkey's hand.

An invisible release tube provides a means for authorised users to activate the system.

The simplicity of the technology allows devices to work in ground based, wall based and overhead applications.

It means that any object traditionally sited, (trapped), in solid concrete can be released instantly without keys, costly excavation, labour or fuss.

Security and Peace of Mind

Once installed, the fastener and any connected objects are 100% secure in solid concrete and can only be released if a way of disturbing the ball is found. This is acheived by locating the hidden release tube, (or by some other remote method), and inserting the striker to disturb the ball.

The release tube may be concealed under soil, turf or a paving slab. Once located, the striker is inserted, the ball is dislodged temporarily and the secured object is instantly removed.

While it is easy, (or natural), to comprehend the technology working as a simple fastener, an anchoring device or a traditional security system in the ground, (or when attached to a wall or ceiling), those applications represent just a fraction of the ways the technology can be deployed.

The system will also function as an interactive or intelligent feed back system or interface or form the basis for exotic or novel  left-field applications also.

For example, used as an anchoring system where the ingress of water might represent a threat, using a soluble ball in the chamber, (rather than a stainless steel ball bearing) would ensure that, on the arrival of water or a fluid in a system, the soluble ball would dissolve and disintergrate, enabling an anchored object to be released to float to the surface as an area was flooded or compromised.

... and, relying only on one moving part and gravity, the system lends itself to many LEO and off world applications also.

Plaster of Paris, Lego, wood, recycled wood, brick, concrete, steel, composite materials, polypropelene.

These were just a few of the materials I experimented with while based at my business address and R & D facility at Pymore Mills Industrial estate, Bridport back in 1996.

1998

How should we really judge success or personal achievement?

Is a person perceived as having been successful if they have a worthwhile career, a new car or can afford  a mortgage on a dwelling they call their own home?

And how about headlining every page of every news, current affairs and glossy magazine story you ever partake in? Or winning every single competition you ever enter?

Having continually picked up awards and accolades from the moment I first revealed my deceptively simple alien like technology to the world in 1995, I learned a lot about success when I beat 200+ other business competitors, exhibitors and inventors from over 20 countries across the planet, (two years in a row), at the worlds biggest Innovation shows.

But what did I learn?

I learned that success means nothing if you have to sacrifice and lose everything you love to achieve it.

He was tall, standing head and shoulders above the other people in the crowd and he was heading my way, (to present me with a £10,000 prize and the 1998 London Innovation Show International Inventor of the Year award), though I had no intention of engaging him.

Instead, I ducked behind a group of people in front of me and dissolved into the throng of show visitors all heading for the award ceremony.

But WHY did I take such an attitude?

Explore this site further to discover the answer.