Every month, Inventors Digest features new inventions from independent inventors in our Under the Radar section. To have your new invention in the magazine, email info@inventorsdigest.com. Put “Radar” in the subject line.

Life ‘N Death

Surf nut, waterman, author and inventor Dr. Robert Yonover is at it again.

Last year, we featured his RescueStreamer – a bright orange floating ribbon that allows search-and-rescue teams to find you when you’re adrift at sea or stuck on a mountain.

Now he’s developed the Life/Float – a super-durable, super-portable, easily inflatable life raft that can float more than 300 pounds.

Shaped like a surfboard (natch) and equipped with eight handholds, he’s hoping the Life/Float may usher a new wave of rescue equipment.

Visit www.hardcoreinventing.com

Sun ‘N Surf

Tony Jones of Coral Reef Wetsuits in Westminster, Calif., has developed patent-pending Solar Charging Surfboards.

The solar panels in the boards are lightweight, flush with the deck and water-tight. A small plug covers the charging outlet and is removed with a small tool. The board comes with a compact lithium ion battery that holds enough juice to charge cell phones, smart phones, iPods, radios, flashlights, what have you.

Ideal for the traveling surfer who needs to keep gizmos up and running.

Oh, and like most all of Tony’s stuff, the boards are made by surfers and in the U.S. of A.

Mahalo, Tony!

Visit www.coralreefwetsuits.com

Throw in the Towel

Restaurateur Roy Romsburg thought there had to be a better way to lift hot and heavy trays out of the oven.

Using oven mitts and dishcloths seemed so unsanitary.

So he hit on the HowiGripp, the Ultimate Pan Movement Tool – a sort of pliers for pans.

“It appeared simple at first,” says Romsburg’s brother, Paul. “We needed a tool which would pry, grip and lift a pan with one hand. We researched the market and there was nothing like this out there. After testing different pairs of workbench pliers in order to get a feel for the concept, we realized we needed an engineer…oh, and also lots of money.”

Visit www.howigripp.com

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