Fitted Sheets and the Broomtool
Fitted Sheets
Gisele Jubinvilles bedding invention is an updated version of a linen
classic, the fitted sheet, designed to make the dreaded chore of making
the bed all the more easy. Gisele saw a problem with her whites, finding
that the sheets would often ride up the mattress and slip off the
corners when any weight was placed on the bed.
Her ill-fitted sheets were an ongoing pet peeve, but it wasnt until the
Jubinvilles saw a news story about that very problem that she decided
to do something about it.
Months of sewing and hundreds of yards of fabric later, Gisele came up
with fitted sheets that met her expectations. The corners are bound with
a special stitch to create deep pockets that grab a mattress and stay
put; the sheets fit over a variety of materials and can be even modified so
that only two corners are fitted.
The road to retail was a bumpy one; the American patent was turned down
three times, and large companies dominated the market, making it near
impossible for Gisele and her husband Len to market her invention
independently. After approaching several businesses, the patent was sold
to Springs Industries Inc., an American home furnishings company, for $1
million.
The Broomtool
For anyone who has ever has ever come across gum stuck to the floor,
flipped the broom over to try and scrape it off only to have the handle
snap, Gisele Jubinville has the answer to your problems. The Broomtool
is a simple appliance, invented to strengthen handles and remove
stubborn substances, such as mud or ice.
Patented in 1998, the device consists of a brace and scraper, secured to
the head and handle of a push broom. Once attached, the blade extends
down over the head so that debris may be scraped off a surface when the
broom is inverted.
The Broomtool took second place at the 1998 Klondike innovation awards.
Gisele and her husband Len are planning to manufacture and market their
invention themselves.
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