The team that created the Abom no-fog goggle learned a great deal doing the Abom 1 and the Abom Heet goggle, Not only did they learn the ways to remove water vapor efficiently, they also learned that users would prefer to do nothing but enjoy a clear field of view. Of course, the best product is no product and that’s how the new Tempest gets the job done. Users only need to make sure their goggle is charged and the sensor driven goggle auto-magically eliminates the hint of fogging.
One feature that’s a major improvement is the lens. It’s attached magnetically and it separates from its internal heated lens. This makes the exterior tinted lens much less costly. Users can now get the tinted lenses they need for different conditions at a more reasonable price, Sure, maybe not a huge consideration for this demographic , but everyone appreciates high value,
If you know the Abom One and Abom Heet goggle you will notice the lens of the Tempest is cylindrical as opposed to spherical or toroidal. This decision was based on the industry trend that currently favors cylindrical lenses. Over time , the pendulum may certainly swing back and this chassis deign can certainly accommodate this without needing a total redesign,
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Sharp Attack!
As part of a large re imagining of clip knives, that is, a redesign of the trusty (good name) pocket knife, FUSE also did the RIPSTOP. The RIPSTOP is this very detailed product with its skeletal design, over sized pivot surround and subtle grip scallops that mirror the blade’s serrations. The blade features a big Orca Eye assist, and it looks like a predator (especially the with the serrated version’s teeth) when open. Some may suggest it’s over designed, but given its price point and the zeitgeist at the time, really it’s a nice composition. Light, shadow, fasteners and openings within the the body work together. This turned out to be a very popular model.
We had suggested names like GASH MAKER, STABBY McSTABBER, GUTTER, SORRY MOM! and STEVE CARVEY, but none of these won. RIPSTOP is kind of a funny name given a knife is the opposite of a rip stopper, it’s really a RIP-GO-ER
Lifesaver
The SKWRL Bio Pod is the industrial version of the Marwall super insulated twin walled stainless steel storage pod. This version powder coats the exterior of the stainless steel and is targeted for food storage and beyond.
The pod shown features a double wall Triton lid that sandwiches a silicone gasket. This gasket provides a leak-proof seal. This configuration includes eating utensils, though other tools may be employed. An organ recovery version was recently deployed in eastern Europe with scalpels, forceps and suturing tools.
This insulated container can be used wherever temperature maintenance is required. The pod can be used for the transport of food, living tissue, medicines, plant life, pathogens and any temperature sensitive materials.
Walker, Texas Ranger
A successful real estate tycoon came to FUSE to design a better cane. He had pals that were getting to that age and he disliked the choices they had for this additional stability. Our benefactor wanted something that did not say “disabled or feeble”. Something that was more akin to a piece of sports equipment. He and we wanted something its owners would love and rely on like a favorite tool or tennis racquet. We know the best products are not just trophies, but also tools.
FUSE understood the styling problem but certainly wanted to do more by adding functional attributes to the product. For example can it stand up on its own, i.e. self-balance? Provide a better smoother gait? Offer greater mechanical advantage? Be lightweight and not cost a fortune?
FUSE generated several concepts and here below is the Blade Runner concept that we and a focus group of users liked the most.
The Blade Runner (or Riddler?) can balance on its foot, provides shock absorption, adjust for height, collapse for storage and provide a better ride due to its curved foot. This concept is inexpensive to manufacture with a telescopic aluminum shaft and injection molded handle and foot structure. A rubber outsole grips the ground and its design is easy to clean.
BE EVEN MORE SPLATTERPROOF
Orp Industries has always talked about building a running version of their innovative bike horn/ light product, and finally with our help, they’ve done it.
The Runners Orp or “Rorp” is for runners, walkers, hikers and boarders of all types. The big idea, of course, is to make pedestrians more visible by being more hearable, but the Rorp can do more. Runners and walkers who use nights or dark early mornings to run and walk not only have a beacon to be seen but also a very loud horn to let any would be attackers know their attention is unwanted, and if that’s not enough, an accessory cranulator (machined aluminum) is available to cause more serious damage.
The Rorp has a gumby-like malleable metal armature in its body so it holds on to you, works for small and large hand sizes and features a dual tone horn, just like the bike Orp, and the actuator is always under thumb. The Rorp is symmetrical so works on either hand. Multiple light modes including highly visible green LEDs. The LEDs fire every time either horn is fired. Newest versions incorporate a 180 degree Chip On Board (COB_ LED array. This new LED offers better visibility.
SPOOK SPECS
ABOM won a prestigious government contract to leverage their fog fighting technology across multiple military optic platforms. Beyond the more protective war fighting goggle, the SBIR project included the undercover operator. This is the individual that may appear to be a good looking Russian speaking petroleum engineer, but is actually a lethal CIA operative.
The military was looking for slicker design that could go from the urban cafe to the battleground. Military operators call these “spectacles”. This product, of course, can be used in low temperatures, but also in high temperatures where the wearer may be sweating. The wearer’s head is radiating heat at a temperature higher than the ambient air. The result is condensation, fogging. ABOM’s moisture sensing system will automatically turn on and eviscerate the fog. Because the system is only on when needed, less energy is required so the product is feasible even with the required smaller batteries. That said, an external battery pack can provide additional runtime.
Hey batter, batter!
Wilson Sporting Goods owned DeMarini, came to FUSE to to get concepts for a batting glove. Batting gloves do a few things to make batting better for the batter:
1. The batting glove adds a protective layer of skin, like a callus, to protect the player from the friction injury caused by wielding a bat. The injury is usually just blistering, but this is painful, can keep a player from participating and becomes and entry point into the body for more lethal bacteria.
2. An errant pitch can hit the dorsal surface of the batter’s hand. Injury can range from bruising to real broken bone and nerve damage. Putting protective armor and or energy absorbing materials on this dorsal surface can mitigate this problem.
The less great aspects of the batting glove is the reduction of feel and the increase in heat or rather hand heat.
The challenge of creating a good batting glove is to provide protection, not impede articulation and keep them as thermally neutral as possible. Below are the more traditional winners.
VACUUM PACKED.
A couple of entrepreneurs came to FUSE with a big idea: they wanted to reduce all the CO2 and waste created by single use disposable containers. They wanted to replace all these earth killing, land-filling, leaky containers with a collapsible silicone container that diners could bring with them. This sounded good, but these containers exist. The pandemic certainly didn’t help either.
We thought, “This isn’t good. We can’t take their money to make another plastic container….”. We brainstormed. We drew concepts. Like we always do, we explored. We also knew the pervasiveness/success of all the insulated water bottles. Could we bring this insulated utility to food?
We hated all the fussy bento box-like little containers. Who eats like that? People are eating bowls of low glycemic index carbs and proteins. Or, imagine if you’re a frutarian, wouldn’t cold watermelon be good at noon? Yes it would. Do you really want to risk that thirst quenching red goodness to the office fridge? No you do not. You know your so called trusted office mates are food thieves! Maybe it’s a sign of security that they know you well enough to eat off your containers. Beyond food security, we also imagined other uses (e.g. a nice product to take on day hikes, a way to carry temperature sensitive medicines, etc).
We did some concepts and shared them with our world saving duo. The team liked it. Now we had to find a way to make this product something other than cylinder shaped. I’d get into the details, but you’ll notice almost all twin-walled, vacuum sealed stainless steel containers are cylindrical. There are lots of You Tube videos on how these are made, but our soon to be Marwall Pod would require a new path towards commercialization. This was a problem.
We scoured the world and located a company that believed in our team’s vision and they found a way. Armed with this confidence and this new factory partner, we forged ahead. FUSE did multiple thermal studies and realized we needed a twin walled lid to achieve the insulative properties we wanted. We added utensils (keen observers will recognize this as giving a nod to ancient Inuit tools) and stored them on the inside of the twin walled lid. We sealed the pod and the twin walled lid with a silicone gasket. Sliding latches with rotatable carabiner-able loops lock the lid to the base.
We imagine the metal part can last a lifetime or more (barring a fall off a cliff), but the plastics (don’t worry — they’re BPA-free Tritan) while tough, may succumb over time. All these parts are replaceable, so your pod will last a lifetime (if not cut short by a climbing accident and we know you’ll only be thinking about your Marwall Pod in that event…). We are so confident this is a lifetime-plus product, inside the metal container there’s an area to engrave to whom you want to bequeath your Marwall to.
Court Caddy
Serial entrepreneur and avid competitive tennis player, Dr. Rahul Anand (he’s an anesthesiologist), was annoyed when he saw college and pro tennis players throwing sweat laden towels on the court after wiping off. Initially, he had hoped this was just a rare occasion, but it continued to happen. Dr. Anand even contacted the players and/or their management teams to make them aware of the hygiene problem this towel discarding was causing. Still, no change. Exasperated, Dr. Anand decided to take this problem on. This is where FUSE comes in.
Armed with the problem Dr. Anand was trying to fix, FUSE got to work. FUSE retraced the research, and for sure, this problem is a new animal. Not that it’s rare, just that its not been recognized. Lots of products start this way, we as humans adapt to situations. Look at what TESLA is trying to do with the removal of stalks.
After numerous concepts and a couple of full scale prototypes. A tight production budget started to provide clarity. Our team and Dr. Anand settled on the Rocket concept. Initially the Rocket was a single part roto-molded creature. It would hold towels, warm-up clothing, balls, hydration and personal items (phones, keys , wallets, etc.).
While initially designed for tennis, our team imagines the pod being valuable in multiple venues. The Sport Pod is at home pool side, beach side, in the gym and in the world of hospitality. With available accessory trays, the Anand Sport Pod is the perfect guest at your next barbecue.
In order to ship around the country, the world, and not ship air (or cost more than the product), we worked with the molder to make the the legs snap on. It fits into a FEDEX and UPS friendly box and sets up in minutes with no tools.
BALL BAND
Athletic Trainer Taylor Peasha and professional Deep Sea Diver Steven Macdonald came to FUSE for help designing a super versatile training aid. Combined with some simple exercises and stretches, the medium density elastomeric ball provides just the right amount of point load to massage knotted muscles and compressed nerves.
On the engineering front, the big innovation is we use a single injection molded part that is simply flipped over to hold the strap securely. This part features a snap finger that locks to itself.
