my new invention, the portable strap on plate holder ( prototype)

**fierce86** · Jun 28th, 2011, 10:21 PM

I scraped the animation company idea because it would take me years to get good enough at animation to manage a team of animators.

This is a prototype I made at home. It's a plate holder that straps to the front of your chest from your back so you can walk and eat or sit and eat. I'm going to make a better one and sell it on ebay to see how much demand there is for it and see if someone else has made it and then make it.

heres the ebay listing if you want to track the progress

Portable strap on plate holder! | eBay

**jrws** · Jun 29th, 2011, 01:07 AM

interesting.. But what is the point? Wouldn't it be easier to simply sit down and eat to enjoy your meal? (not nitpicking, simply thinking if I were to buy this product...)

**Dutchy** · Jun 29th, 2011, 01:19 AM

I get it....it´s tricky to balance a plate in front of the TV! Not bad, but think I´ve seen it before in London!

**fierce86** · Jun 29th, 2011, 04:16 AM

It lets you walk around and accomplish tasks while you eat for people on the go and in a party setting ( I'll make it look more attractive) it's more appropriate to walk around and mingle sometimes than sit in a corner eating alone. Also if you're watching tv your plate might fall if it's on your knees and if it's on my device then it's closer to your mouth too and directly underneath you so you don't need a napkin on your legs. Plus the hot plate wont burn your legs.

My biggest concerns are making it attractive, comfortable to wear, and competition ( I haven't seen any). I just realized I could put legs under the tray that open up and rest on your legs so if you are sitting and it's a heavier meal it wont strain your back. I also want to put cup and utensil holders and probably a lid to keep the food warm.

**Talisman** · Jun 29th, 2011, 05:50 AM

Look I can see some uses for it, particularly in elderly homes which might be a better target, with some padded shoulders, but when you say things like " its more appropriate to walk around and mingle sometimes "... I wouldn't walk around with a trough attached to me? "hey baby, how about you and me slip away and.. excuse me a second <stuffs face>".

When attaching legs and stands.. just do search for "stable table" and related?

**rocksolid** · Jun 29th, 2011, 08:42 AM

Yeah, I think this is going to be a tough sell. Have you actually put a plate with food and a drink on it and walked around? I bet you have to move pretty slow. Also might be tough getting your arms around those straps to cut you food, like a steak. And at a dinner party are you going to stand 4-6 feet away from the other person wearing one of these while you talk? Not for nothing but walking and eating has already been invented it's called a sandwich. I don't think you will see much activity on ebay because people need to be looking for your item to find it. I don't mean to sound harsh.....this is what this board is all about. Build a proto type and shop it around, Who would you sell this too? Retail stores, specialty shops? To get into big stores like Target you need Insurance, UPC symbols and a slew of other requirments. Find out first what it will take to get into the stores you want to sell this item to and see if you can get it done. It's a mistake I made and right now I am only getting my product into mom and pop shops( doing ok, but not as good as I want)

**sharky** · Jun 29th, 2011, 01:15 PM

I really don't see how this is fastlane AND it violates all 5 commandments of NECST...imo

**Russ H** · Jun 29th, 2011, 01:58 PM

Needs compartments or a way for things to not slide around.

A cup hole would be nice. Adjustible, or just include a cup.

We need to think of a catchy name . . .

Something like the Snuggie . . .

Traych? (and in couch tray?)

Couchie? (pronounced like couch, not like you're tickling a baby)

StayTray or TrayStay (like it stays on you)

Trayer?

OK, I'm done. There are others on here who are much better wordsmiths when it comes to naming something.

-Russ H.

**bflbob** · Jun 29th, 2011, 04:03 PM

Tray Chic

Port-a-party

Over the Shoulder Boulder Holder
(I'm just picturing Dolly Parton using this at a social event.)

**RichKid** · Jun 29th, 2011, 11:23 PM

So you got rid of your original plan, because it potentially involved a lot of hard work and dedication, and instead you decided to put two straps around a tray and sell it on ebay?

Everyone pointed out its many flaws. You're attempting to fix a problem that no one knows they have in the first place. (When I'm eating on the go, I wait until I can't sit somewhere, or I just use my hands while walking.. no biggie.)

Having said that, people have bought things like pet rocks in the past... but even so, I don't see the use/allure as a novelty item with your tray thing.

**Russ H** · Jun 30th, 2011, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by RyanDrake

So you got rid of your original plan, because it potentially involved a lot of hard work and dedication, and instead you decided to put two straps around a tray and sell it on ebay?

Everyone pointed out its many flaws. You're attempting to fix a problem that no one knows they have in the first place. (When I'm eating on the go, I wait until I can't sit somewhere, or I just use my hands while walking.. no biggie.)

Having said that, people have bought things like pet rocks in the past... but even so, I don't see the use/allure as a novelty item with your tray thing.

Ryan-

I have just one word for you:

Snuggie.

Seriously. Ten years ago, had you told me a blanket w/sleeves would be a fad seller, I'da laughed my arse off.

OK, 2 more words:

Sham Wow.

See?

How many people have paid crazy amounts of money for a coupla pieces of yellow cloth?

Both of these products have sold millions. Both are geared towards couch potatoes who watch TV.

This product automatically has that market- because if you're sitting there w/cheese stains on your shirt from those microwave nachos, having the "clean tray" or whatever they call this product would be a "gee, I gotta have that" thing.

On sale now, for only 3 easy payments of $19.95. Includes shipping and handling. Also includes at least 4 other mostly useless but really cool and cheap extras, to get you to CALL NOW!!!!

-Russ H.

**Russ H** · Jun 30th, 2011, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by bflbob

Tray Chic

Port-a-party

Over the Shoulder Boulder Holder
(I'm just picturing Dolly Parton using this at a social event.)

You have a gift, Bobbo.

I love "Tray Chic"-- but I wonder if the couch potater crowd will think it too hoity-toity.

Porta-party is cool, tho. Has kind of a college/animal house thing going for it.

Imagine the scene below w/photoshopped trays and beers/chips on them . . .

-Russ H.

**mrhahn** · Jun 30th, 2011, 12:42 AM

Oh, like this?

YouTube - ‪BigSpot.com - "Neck Basket"‬&rlm;

**RichKid** · Jun 30th, 2011, 12:59 AM

Originally Posted by Russ H

Ryan-

I have just one word for you:

Snuggie.

Seriously. Ten years ago, had you told me a blanket w/sleeves would be a fad seller, I'da laughed my arse off.

OK, 2 more words:

Sham Wow.

See?

How many people have paid crazy amounts of money for a coupla pieces of yellow cloth?

Both of these products have sold millions. Both are geared towards couch potatoes who watch TV.

This product automatically has that market- because if you're sitting there w/cheese stains on your shirt from those microwave nachos, having the "clean tray" or whatever they call this product would be a "gee, I gotta have that" thing.

On sale now, for only 3 easy payments of $19.95. Includes shipping and handling. Also includes at least 4 other mostly useless but really cool and cheap extras, to get you to CALL NOW!!!!

-Russ H.

The snuggie is just a copy of the slanket, which was introduced a few years before. The Shamwow is just a sponge/towel. Both have uses.

I fail to see why someone would strap a tray to their chest... especially at a social gathering/party or anywhere in public. Seriously, let's not kid around here.

OP, prove me wrong. Sell 10,000 of them, and I'll personally buy 100.

**fierce86** · Jun 30th, 2011, 01:41 AM

well there exists portable computer straps see

Google Image Result for http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/geekdad/images/2008/06/23/connectadesk.jpg

Ya just like the snuggie example I think people are lazy and it's convenient. Besides my ebay listing got 50 views so far so maybe people are curious. I'm still researching the market to see how viable it is.

Also it's completely fastlane. How is it not? No one else is doing this, I can reach millions online, automate the selling process, supply a need, etc etc

how is this any less useless than the womans invention who made a lock that locks your keys to the top of your purse so you don't lose them in your purse. She made millions from a tiny little metal lock.

I'm worried though because most people seem to not like it so far on the forum and my family thinks it's a stupid idea

**SIlver911r** · Jun 30th, 2011, 02:32 AM

My wife has big boobs, this would definitely not work in its current form. It would look like the tray was just holding her boobs up, no room for food. If the hot chicks at the party with big boobs aren't using it, then you probably shouldn't either.

Like you pointed out the computer one, maybe you could make an iPad version or something. Or make the tray for some sort of industrial situation where your hands are occupied but you need a bunch of stuff in front of you.

Bottom line, if you get no hits on ebay, you need to revise it.

**Jake** · Jun 30th, 2011, 02:41 AM

At first i laughed at the idea but now it is pure gold lol

Originally Posted by bflbob

Port-a-party

I like it! You can walk around with bottles of liquor a sell/give away shots. Might be able to hit the club / G-club market and have their staff walking around with these

Originally Posted by SIlver911r

My wife has big boobs, this would definitely not work in its current form. It would look like the tray was just holding her boobs up, no room for food.

Now I like it even more! Girls can walk around with a tray that holds up their boobs and you take shots off of it!

**SIlver911r** · Jun 30th, 2011, 03:29 AM

My point was she would never wear the tray though. Could you imagine walking into a club or bar where the cocktail waitresses wore one of these? They would never get through the crowd without spilling all the drinks on their boobs. (I know, I know, lick it off the tray/boobs)

**Jake** · Jun 30th, 2011, 04:06 AM

Originally Posted by SIlver911r

My point was she would never wear the tray though. Could you imagine walking into a club or bar where the cocktail waitresses wore one of these? They would never get through the crowd without spilling all the drinks on their boobs. (I know, I know, lick it off the tray/boobs)

I was having fun with the idea. I don't see it working in the states or really anywhere for that matter to make it worth the OP's time but you never really know. In Thailand the service staff walks around with a bottle of Tequila on a tray in a lot of the bars. This design would probably make it more complicated to carry it around though. I think a side holster for the bottle and a shot glass ammo vest would be a better way to serve and you can easily navigate a crowd.

Maybe the OP can design and sell that? I don't see the benefits of the original food idea.

**Inphinity** · Jun 30th, 2011, 04:44 AM

There are a number of places already marketing a very similar product as a shoulder serving tray / walkabout serving tray etc. They're used semi-regularly in bars, cafes etc for staff to use to carry larger orders out to tables where it would be difficult or dangerous to carry on a smaller hand tray. So don't for one moment think it's a brand new product - but instead, think about how you can re-market it to a different group of people, or improve upon it.