November 2009
Ms. Christine Best Perkins , inventor of FidoRido , a car seat for dogs (see video in left panel), shared with us some of her ongoing experiences as an innovator. Her presentation and the ensuing discussion offered practical insights into the world of the inventor. The need. Ms. Perkins got a puppy and immediately realized that she needed to protect both her dog and herself during car rides together. How could she make the ride fun for her dog while keeping her dog off of her face, from between her foot and the brake pedal, and from falling out of the window? The solution – a car seat for dogs – included a molded container (originally a cat litter box), a dog harness that could be strapped to different areas of the container, a cushion that elevated the dog high enough to see out the window, and a removable pouch for carrying small items. At home, her dog could use the car seat as a bed or (frown) as a bathtub. Mr. Craig Thompson suggested that she focus on finalizing th