Sudbury inventor Ryan McIlvenna recently got the go-ahead from Home
Hardware to ramp up production on his invention, the Plug Safe.
The Plug Safe is a safety cover for electrical outlets to prevent young
children from being injured or killed. It was a concept he had come up with
several years ago, but its importance was brought home about a year ago
when he managed to prevent a child from hurting himself on a household
outlet.
With the assistance of the Sudbury Regional Business Centre and a local
product development company, McIlvenna's product was developed and
presented at the National Trade Show in Toronto. It was picked up by Home
Hardware who has ordered about 50,000 units to test market.
McIlvenna says only about two per cent of new inventions ever make it to
the marketplace.