The Invention
This is a small triangular device for use in an emergency or breakdown. This unit has 6 very bright amber LEDs in triangular configuration. it is powered by 2 x AA size batteries which last for over 2500 hours non stop ( just to prove it is not battery hungry) This device when in situation can be seen from over 1000 metes. It is carried within the car either in glove box or door pocket. When needed it can be fitted within seconds without having to get out of car until safe to do so. It also fits into centre of fold up obligatory continental reflective triangle.

The Inventor
I am now 66 and have been in engineering and electronics from the age of 12. I am a licensed Amateur Radio operator. I am the Chairman of the recently started East London Inventors Club attached to the University of East London, the club is for inventors run by inventors.

The idea
The idea came about whilst changing a flat tyre late at night some years ago. As I was changing the wheel a car brushed me and I had a lucky escape. In view of the problems encountered with this incident I decided that something better was needed for advance warning for approaching drivers. The large reflector can only be seen with dipped headlights from around 90 metres. Less than 3 seconds at 70 mph The large triangle can blow over when a large vehicle passes at high speed as I found out. I then decided that something was needed that could be carried inside the car and not buried under loads of suit cases as is the case when going on holidays etc. I made 2 rough prototypes to test my theories. One for my wife and one for me.

The problems
After making and testing the 2 prototypes we took these along to The Inventors Exhibition at the Barbican and showed it to a Manufacturer who showed interest. He took our prototype and made some enquiries after some 6 months he returned the prototype to us saying that it was not a marketable idea. We then put these 2 units in our cars for our own protection. A few years later November 1998 2 police officers, an RAC patrolman and member and a Recovery driver were killed on the south section of the M!! all within a few weeks of one another. I then decided to dig out our small units and take them along to a large recovery company here in East London and showed them what I had. They tested them over night and immediately placed an order with me for 20 units. I then made 50 second prototypes the day I delivered these 20 units a rep from the RHA was in their office and saw the new units he asked if he could have a sample as he thought their was a need for such a unit in Road Haulage.

The Solution
The recovery company gave me valuable feed back on the effectiveness of the prototypes and showed them to the RAC who took samples for their testing. After a short time we realized that their was a need for our small unit on the market and decided to invest our savings and start manufacturing. We re-mortgaged our house and started to design tools for mouldings etc. Our small device was chosen for the millennium dome exhibition but as we were not manufacturing by the set date October 31st we were not included. However we started to manufacture some 2 months later and then we needed a packaging for our product. The tools were made and in March/April 2000 we finally had a product ready for market. We were nominated for Innovation of the Year . The Daily Telegraph recommended the ELite to their readers our phones went white hot. We are still getting orders from this article

The success
Nominated for Innovation of the Year . Many magazines featured our small unit. Runner up for Businessman of the year with Nat. West and went on to win the Euroward area final. A Product Promotor negotiated a license with Lucas in Birmingham to manufacture our device. Since then it has been approved by D.O.T. and recommended by the AA to all their members.

Conntact Details
Terry Jennings,
terryjennings@eastlondoninventorsclub.com