CONSUMERS : A High-Tech 3-Wheeler for Skaters

A Boston sculptor--whose name really is Joseph S. Wheelwright--has designed new, high-tech aerobic roller skates with three not four wheels and brake pads to slow skaters (even on hills) and keep them from tipping and falling.

The skates’ three large, 6-inch, neon-green wheels are positioned so two are on either side of the ankle and one is in front of the toes. The unusual design, Wheelwright says, “frames” the foot in a padded binding system and provides skaters a lower center of gravity.

Wheelwright skates are worn over flat-soled shoes and can fit almost any size foot. Their chassis is lightweight, fiber-filled hydrocarbon with axles of aircraft-grade stainless steel. Each wheel has double-row steel bearings. Heavy black nylon bindings fasten with Velcro-like ends.

Wheelwright reports that consumers who have tested them describe the skates’ action as “like skiing.” So much so, he has added poles to help propel skaters along.

“The main problem with traditional roller skates is the pain,” he explained. “They’re too short and there is nothing to stop the feet getting in front of the body and having you fall over backwards. Once you’ve fallen on a pavement a few times, you don’t want to do it again.”

Wheelwright Skates sell for $169. Poles are $32; carrying strap, $2. In the Los Angeles area, you can buy them at Sporting Ideas Surf and Skate in Gardena. Or order from J. S. Wheelwright Co., 410 E St., South Boston, Mass. 02127; phone (800) 544-6624.

Christmas Design

It might be premature to mention Christmas, but if you want to get an early start on holiday cards and make them yourself, consider “White Christmas,” a book of patterns for origami pop-up Christmas cards and decorations.

Designed by Japanese origami artists Masahiro Chatani and Keiko Nakazawa, the book offers 20 different three-dimensional figures and holiday scenes, among them a Santa with sleigh and reindeer, Christmas trees, angels with trumpets, a Nativity scene and a holiday wreath. The cut-and-fold patterns can be scaled up or down for different cards and decorations; there are two precut cards ready for sending. All finished cards will fit No. 4 or No. 6 envelopes.

The unusual designs are crafted to pop up at 90 or 180 degrees. They’re not the simplest in the world to complete, but the directions are thorough and easy to follow. In the book, the artists rate designs by level of difficulty. It is easier to start with a simple pattern like No. 1, the shooting star, and work toward the hard ones.

“White Christmas,” produced by Kodansha International USA/Ltd., retails for $14.95 in nationwide bookstores, among them Doubleday Bookshops, Walden Books, Kroch and Brentano’s and Kinokuniya. In Los Angeles, it is also available at Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., Children’s Book Word, 10580 1/2 Pico Blvd., and Amerasia Bookstore, 129 Japanese Village Pl. in Little Tokyo. If you can’t find it in your area, contact Kodansha International, 114 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10011; phone, (212) 727-6460.

Anti-Bug Device

For an alternative to insect sprays or lotions, there’s an electronic mosquito repelling device just out. It’s made of lightweight plastic (2 ounces) and has a clip on the back so it fastens easily on a belt or shirt pocket.

The Electronic Mosquito-Expeller operates on one AG-13 battery, and wards off mosquitoes up to a distance of 15 feet using sonic waves, its California distributor says.

“Whenever I go camping or even if I’m at a park or school yard, I always get bitten by mosquitoes and other insects,” said Judy Berkowitz of Berk International, the firm distributing the new device. “When I use this, I am not bothered by these critters.”

The device costs $9.95, including tax, shipping and handling. To order, contact Berk International, P.O. Box 5294, Garden Grove, Calif. 92645; phone, (714) 898-8648.

True-Brew Coffee

If you like a quick, easy, strong and tasty cup of coffee, then Ready-To-Brew Koffiefilters may be just the right ticket for you. Imported from Belgium by an El Segundo company, they are single-serve filters filled with premeasured ground coffee--regular or decaffeinated.

Simply place the filter holder on a cup, fill it with boiling water and cover with the plastic lid that comes with the coffee kit. Water will drip through and into the cup in 3 minutes or so. Remember, though, this is a strong cup of coffee, so you may want to add extra water; if you like a weaker cup of coffee, you can reuse the filter.

“Most of us have less time to relax, so we want those special un-stressed moments to be easy to achieve,” explained Maurice Flantzman, president of Koffiefilters. “This product really does combine time-saving and self-indulgence, and that’s a recipe for stress reduction.”

A trial sampler of 20 filters in a foil pack--including filter-holder and lid--costs $8.95 for regular coffee; $9.95 for decaffeinated, plus $2.75 per order for shipping and handling. Larger packages are also available: 60 filters of regular coffee cost $27.95; decaf, $30.95 or $29.75 for half regular, half decaf, plus $3.50 shipping. A case of 100 filters costs $44.95 for regular; $49.95 decaf or $48.50 for a mixed order, plus $4 shipping.

The company offers a courtesy discount of $5 on first-time full-case orders. For credit card orders, call (800) 343-8187. If ordering by mail, send a check or money to Ready-to-Brew Koffiefilters, 138 Arena St., No. E, El Segundo, Calif. 90245.