THE GOODS : Pacifier Measures Body Heat
The Wee Care Digital Pacifier Thermometer looks like a pacifier and takes a digital temperature reading while your baby or toddler sucks on the rubber nipple.
A temperature-sensing device inside the nipple transmits the heat from the child’s mouth to an electronic circuit on the front of the thermometer, and the temperature is then displayed on an LCD window. During use, a quiet beeper sounds at preset intervals to confirm the device is working, and a long set of beeps goes off when the process is complete.
The unit runs on a built-in 1.5-volt battery and is equipped with an on-off button, an automatic shut-off to avoid battery drain and a storage cover to keep the nipple clean. It has an estimated 18-month battery life and comes with a one-year warranty.
Reps from Questech International, the Tampa, Fla., developer of the thermometer, say it is accurate within .2 degrees Fahrenheit. The Wee Care pacifier-thermometer is designed for children 5 or younger. It has been approved for sale as a medical device by the Food and Drug Administration and meets the safety requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Questech expects to have the Wee Care Digital Pacifier Thermometer on the market in mass merchandisers, drug, department and baby stores in July. Suggested retail will be from $14.99 to $16.99. For more information, call Questech at (800) 966-5367.
The Little Engine That Could . . . Reduce Smog
Ryobi has just developed a little engine that could help reduce environmental pollution. It’s the first 4-cycle engine small enough for use on hand-held lawn equipment such as grass trimmers, edgers and blowers.
The new engine doesn’t mix oil and gas, as other lawn equipment does, so that cuts out the smoky, oily exhaust that’s bad for the environment--a good deal for the quality of the air when you consider that running a grass trimmer for one hour can create the same amount of smog-producing gases as driving a car for 70 miles.
The new engine is featured on Ryobi’s new multiuse TrimmerPlus 970r, a system of tools that attach to the trimming base, turning it into an edger, cultivator, blower, vacuum or a tree pruner. TrimmerPlus ($179-$229) is available nationwide at lawn-and-garden centers and mass merchandisers.
In a rare industry move, Ryobi North America has offered to license its four-cycle engine technology to other North American companies to help them in meeting upcoming regulations limiting exhaust emissions from garden equipment. They say the engine can reduce exhaust pollutants by 80% compared to other engines of its size.
A Night Light With So Much to Offer
Limelight is a unique night light that uses only 0.03 watts, has no bulb to break and generates so little heat that it won’t burn you. It operates 24 hours a day and uses less than 2 cents worth of electricity a year.
The small, square light is only a quarter-inch thick and casts a greenish glow when it is plugged into the wall. The light is created by a Space-Age lighting material that is constantly cool to the touch. Austin Innovations in Austin, Tex., has given its Limelight ($6-$8) a lifetime guarantee--if it ever burns out, return it and Austin will replace it.
The company also has just introduced a Limelight kit for kids called the Boogie Buster ($12.95) and an In-Wall Limelight ($12.95) that can be installed permanently in a standard-switch wall plate. It has a two-year limited warranty.
Limelight products are available nationwide at Home Depot, JCPenney and selected Ace and True Value hardware stores. Or call Austin Innovations at (800) 669-6766.
