Coast Guard Strobe Goes Commercial
Many of us--sailors, drivers, highway crews, campers, fishermen, to mention a few--might find a use for an Anaheim firm’s new Emergency Electron-Strobe, a 5-inch plastic device whose strobe light can be seen from 3 to 7 miles away, according to its manufacturer.
Alpha Signetics Inc. developed the product for the Coast Guard, one of the strobe unit’s inventors said. Now, after more than a year of use by Coast Guard personnel, the company has decided to market the emergency device to the public.
The strobe, which uses one D cell alkaline battery, has been tested to flash 50 to 70 times per minute for 16 hours, after which it will continue to flash “at a diminishing rate for a total of 72 hours.”
Emergency Electron-Strobe has a red plastic case with two interchangeable acrylic lenses, one clear, one amber, which are attached to the top of the unit by a rubber gasket that makes the whole thing watertight.
A side-mounted stainless steel pin makes it easy to attach to life jackets and other clothing used in outdoor work or recreation. Alpha Signetics representatives recommend that, with the amber flasher on top, the unit can substitute for emergency blinkers on a car--thus saving the auto’s battery.
Emergency Electron-Strobe is available for $19.95 (including tax, handling and shipping, but not the battery) from Alpha Signetics Inc., 9461 Hillview Road, Anaheim 92804; (714) 633-1843.
A Little Darkness
Gregory Ainsworth likes to refer to his new product as “a novel idea,” the pun intended, because it is a Book Shade that cuts down page glare when you are reading in the sun.
For California’s sun worshipers, Ainsworth said, “it makes reading in the bright sun easier.” The Book Shade is an accordion-like folding device with clips at either end to secure the shade to the top of your hardback or paperback book or magazine. Constructed of vinyl-coated heavy paper, the shade comes in one size, two styles--palm trees or a geometric design--and in four colors--red, green, blue and yellow.
For additional information, or to order (at $2.95, plus $1 for shipping and handling), call (213) 439-6663, or write to Sun Shore Enterprises Inc., P.O. Box 30775, Long Beach 90853.
Nest for Heels
Coming to a large number of Southern California’s shoe stores and shoe repair shops in the next few weeks is a Texas product called Heel Nest, targeting women who don’t want to scuff the heels of their shoes while driving.
“Women are the ones who are buying it, but it would be perfect for men, too,” said Bill Patton, vice president of sales for MVJ Inc. of Dallas, which manufactures the product. “But they haven’t seemed too interested, except for the men who wear Western boots. They’re using it all the time.”
Although Heel Nest has been sold in a few California outlets since late last year, Patton said MVJ is stepping up marketing here.
The anti-scuff device is a 7-inch-square soft vinyl cushion, about 3/4 inch thick. According to Patton, once placed on the car’s floor or mat, it does not slip because of “a specially-formulated material on the bottom which grips the floorboard.” Heel Nest retails for $9.95. For information on which local stores are carrying it, call (800) 331-3076.
