Patent  on “Silver Saver” flatware detector goes through after nearly 5 years. 

US Patent # 7,296,683 B1

Ken Vallelonga Sr. and Derrick Haddix  applied for the patent in December 2002 about 5 years ago, 4 years, 8 months to be more exact. Our Detector/alarm, the “Silver Saver” flatware detector lid has finally been approved for a US patent.

A friend of mine who owns Damons restaurant, Derick  Haddix came to me about 5 years ago and asked me if I knew what the biggest loss in the restaurant industry was. I thought for several moments about the question and asked him if it was lost or stolen salt shakers or broken dishes but he said no. He said I could go out behind his store and in the garbage bin I would probably find 5-10 pieces of silverware that his employees have accidentally discarded in the garbage can. Some restaurants loose between $10,000 and $15,000 a year in lost silverware. Come to find out says Derick, that out of all the restaurants in the US, there is an estimated $200 billion in total sales and out of the $200 billion spent annually in sales (for food, dishes, flatware, etc. ),  restaurants spend $100 million on replacement of silverware!  So, to say the least, this is a huge loss in the restaurant industry.  Derick then asked me if I could develop a garbage can detector that will sound an alarm or flash a light when  flatware is accidentally thrown away into the garbage. Well several months later I had a working proto-type and Derick and I began the patent process. We began to shop around for a company that would be interested in such a device, ( we built the detector/alarm into a Rubbermaid 55 gal garbage can lid ). Derick had another lid from a company near Chicago that has a magnet built into the lid. The lid they have on the  market and has a big magnet in the center of the lid and it attracts the metal silverware and catches it. But sometimes the magnet misses the silverware not to mention that the lid catches paper and garbage and has to be washed off often. After contacting them and going there 3 times over the 5 years, they said they may like to add an electronic lid to their product line. We are speaking to them about marketing our lid. The detector since named “Silver Saver” works very well ( see picture below ) and I designed it for the batteries to last several months even when left on 24/7 .This unnamed company near Chicago who has been patiently waiting for our patent to go through is in the process of discussing with us about producing the “Silver Saver” lid.

After debating with the patent office and several thousand dollars later, we discussed similarities with other patents, and we had to redo the whole patent. I was able to determine  differences in our device over the others. So finally, at long last, we have received a letter of acceptance and are anxious to get started marketing our lid.  Hopefully, we will see the “Silver-Saver” detector/ alarm lid on the market soon! We will have updates as time goes on. Thank You!  See a larger picture of the Silver-Saver garbage can lid below. 

We are looking for companies that want to manufacture and market the Silver-Saver flatware detector. Please contact  Ken Vallelonga Sr. at the number below.

                                                                                                                                                                                     Ken Vallelonga Sr.

                                                                                                                                                                                    Contact Ken at : 304-203-5957

    “Silver-Saver” detector with alarm lid"                                                                                                                                                             

Site designed by Ken M. Vallelonga Sr,  Copyright © 2003-2004, Invent-Electronics.com, All Rights Reserved.