Dear Lactnetters, I have been barely able to lurk out there in the past few months due to major life/job changes, but I wanted to share this with you. I checked the archives and didn't see that anyone had discussed it, but I am not very computer-literate. I am nothing short of appalled at this product reported in the local newspaper here in the suburbs of Phoenix AZ: East Valley/Scottsdae Tribune November 28, 2003 A report titled "E.V. Man's Invention Rings True" about a Scottsdale man's invention honored by the Inventor's Association of Arizona. Later in the article it reads: Phoenix resident Margot Smith also was honored for Mother's Third Arm, a bottle/cup holder she designed with a flexible "arm" that attaches to tables, strollers and wheelchairs and helps busy moms do other chores while they feed their young children. Both inventions finished in the top 10 among about 400 products submitted for the contest. By finishing in the top 10, they received free evaluations for their products through the UIA's innovation assessment program plus free consultations with patent attorneys, patent searches, software for filing patents and listings on Web Sites that feature new products. The winning entries, which were judged by a panel of new product experts, were selected because they have potential appeal to a large market, said Bob Lougher, executive of the Rochester, NY based inventors association. The most common judge's comment about Mother's Third Arm was it's durable construction, he said. "Also some of the female judges who are mothers thought it would be quite handy", he said. (Next part talks abaout the other inventor, then... Smith is further along with Mother's Third Arm. It's already available to consumers by calling her company, Innoventions LLC. at (888-540-7070), or it can be ordered through mail order catalogues. Also it can be ordered online at www.4innoventions.com. The price is $19.95 plus shipping and handling. Smith got the idea for the patented "arm" when one of her grandchildren was visiting and threw a bottle on the floor. That was seven years ago, and she has been working to perfect the design ever since. Smith had about 5000 of the arms made in Phoenix and 25000 made in China. After a couple of years on the market, she has about 5000 left and is planning to resume production to build up an adequate inventory to sell them through retail stores. "If I could get it in just one store, I know I would do really well," she said. "I have wonderful testimonials from people". More information is svailable on the Internet at www.azinventors.org and www.uiusa.org. I went to the first website, and the pictures give my heart an ache. Now, if someone can only invent a baby diaper changer, we never ever have to touch our children. I am hoping some people with power, psychologists, child-development experts, doctors and any and all can speak up for the babies in this matter. The ramifications of this product are overwhelming. Catherine Pridie RN BSN IBCLC Queen Creek, Arizona *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html