Kickstarter Incubates Brilliant Integrated Bike Lock Crowdfunding Project

By Robert Hoskins

Many bike riders struggle on a daily basis with bulky locks wrapped around the bike frame or hanging from their necks as they ride to work or school.  But a new Kickstarter Crowdfunding campaign today introduced the InterLock™, which is a seat post with a bike lock inside of it. The bike lock is an integrated lock that hides inside of the frame of virtually any bicycle. While the lock is not in use, it is concealed and stored in the seat post, allowing cyclists to ride without a lock hanging off of their bike.

Kickstarter Campaign to Fund Integrated Bike Lock

The newest product by Solgaard Design, The InterLock™, has taken off on the popular crowdfunding site, Kickstarter. Adrian Solgaard Janzen, creator of The InterLock™, has set the project’s initial funding goal at $48,000 and needs to raise these funds in order to cover tooling and material costs for the lock.

There are different ways to use the The InterLock™; simply pull the cable out and slip it through the frame of a bike or use it in conjunction with a standard U-Lock which is recommended for high-risk areas in order to secure the seat and rear wheel to the bike. Some may wonder whether or not removing the seat means the bike can be stolen, but the answer is no. Just be sure to run the the cable through the frame and rear wheel to secure the entire bike to the bike rack.

“About a year ago, my bike was stolen due to a faulty lock,” explains Solgaard. “Losing my bike combined with the hassle of carrying around a bulky bike lock inspired me to create The InterLock™ for cyclists around the world.”

The lock will retail for an estimated $50, but is offered at a discount for early adopters on Kickstarter. For a pledge of $39, backers will receive the InterLock™ bicycle seat post with a weather resistant lock and two keys. However, in order for the product to be manufactured, it must reach its total funding goal of $48,000.

Currently, The InterLock™ has raised over 70% of the necessary funds, with an all-or-nothing deadline of February 5, 2012.

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IndieGoGo Crowdfunding Campaign Unveils Ultra Fast Battery Charger for Cell Phones and Electric Cars

By Robert Hoskins

IndieGoGo Crowdfunder, Potential Difference, is raising money to bring ultra fast battery charging technology to a worldwide market as soon as possible.  According to the company, test results have shown charge times measured in minutes rather than hours for off the shelf lithium ion batteries, which are used in consumer electronics products such as cell phones, laptop computers, electric automobiles and in the future renewable energy charging stations.

Ultra fast cell phone battery charger from Potential Difference

The technology has been tested on batteries that are already on the market. It does not rely on development of new battery technology.

Ordinary batteries have been charged in minutes, staying well below maximum charging temperatures recommended by battery manufacturers: 70% state of charge in 10 minutes, 80% in 12 minutes, and 100% in 16 minutes. Even these results might be improved with further development.

Cell phone users will not be stranded without power when they have an urgent need to revive their batteries in just a few minutes. The technology can also be applied to laptop computers, tablet computers, cameras, portable power tools, and other consumer electronics.

Being able to charge an electric vehicle with speeds closer to gasoline refueling speeds the growth of the electric vehicle industry. Electric vehicles improve the environment by not releasing emissions that contribute to global warming.

Currently, the largest market for fast battery charging is cell phones and laptop computers, and Electric Vehicle battery charging is an emerging large market. Being in both markets strengthens the ability of Potential Difference to have a larger eventual impact on the environment as it pursues ultra fast electric vehicle battery charging. The Indiegogo crowdfunding platform is well suited for a consumer electronics product such as an ultra fast cell phone battery charger.

Potential Difference is an electronics technology firm that provides consumer electronics and environmental solutions.  Potential Difference is:

• 1 of 30 companies selected nationwide by U. S. Department of Energy’s National Renewal Energy Laboratory to present at their annual Industry Growth Forum in 2011, the nation’s premier entrepreneurial event.
• 1 of 10 companies selected to receive Commercialization Assistance in 2011 by Illinois Smart Grid Regional Innovation Cluster, a collaborative effort with the US Department of Energy, Illinois Science & Technology Coalition, and Clean Energy Trust

New Universal Stylus Pen Works with iPhones, iPads, SmartPhones and Tablets

By Robert Hoskins

Wish you had a stylus pen to work with your new Smartphone or tablet? Look no further than America’s favorite gadget/gizmo shopping mall, Kickstarter.com. Where average Americans are becoming leading inventors because of the power that new Crowdfunding sites are providing to ingenious inventions to bring them to life in the most non-traditional ways.

SimplePen1 Universal Stylus Pen for Wireless Mobility Devices

Simple, but useful, the white SimplePen1 has a white stylus, the first of its kind in the world, while the black SimplePen1 has a black stylus, the standard in the industry. Two styles are being made available on Kickstarter, one with a non-replaceable stylus and one with a replaceable stylus. The replaceable stylus style comes with two additional replaceable styluses in the package.

Additionally, a specialized refill is available for the pen that uses 1/2 gel ink and 1/2 ballpoint ink. This gives the smooth feel of gel and it dries instantly without being ‘smeary,’ just like ballpoint ink.

Charles Waugh already successfully launched the SlingShot by WOXOM on Kickstarter last year, raising over $70,000, so he is familiar with ‘crowd-funded’ projects. In addition launching WOXOM and SimplePen, he is a prominent portrait photographer in Portland Oregon.