It’s been quite a life for Stephen Schreiber.
For a man who describes himself as “unemployed for the last 30 years,” he’s certainly had his share of adventures. After growing up in Rock City (Town of Milan) and receiving his undergraduate degree in food science from the University of Georgia, Schreiber spent three years in the Navy, including one that landed him in Vietnam. He then worked for three years as a bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York before moving back to Rock City to buy real estate. He eventually ended up owning most of the property at the intersection of Rt. 308 and Rt. 199. He has owned an antique shop, built the semi-famous, 31-foot-high “Fork in the Road” sculpture at the aforementioned intersection and even constructed a mock Prozac pill out of a 500-gallon propane tank, which also sits at the traffic light in Rock City.
And now, Schreiber can add “inventor” to his list of accomplishments when he participates in the Invention and New Product Exposition in Pittsburgh, Pa., from June 11-14 for his patented Fun-L-Top. The Fun-L-Top is a funnel-shaped device designed to make the eating of popcorn and snack food items easier and more manageable. According to his literature, “it attaches to a standard rim-edged cup resulting in a complete dispensing package. The result is easier mixing of popcorn flavors (sanitary for multiple users), excellent portion control and an item that is spill-proof and perfect for one-handed eating.
Schreiber has been working on his invention since 1989 and, after a lengthy process, finally secured his patent in 2002.
“I call myself an accident,” said Schreiber when asked to define himself. “It’s been a hoot.”
Schreiber said the idea hatched from a fairly mundane event. He was attending a movie at Upstate Films and took what he called a “mounding cupful” of popcorn back to his seat. He was thinking to himself that not only was there no way to mix up the popcorn without spilling it, but also that it was impossible not to make a mess of your hands. “That’s when the proverbial light bulb went off,” said Schreiber. “I thought, ‘This thing needs a top!’”
A difficult process
Getting the patent proved more difficult than Schreiber expected, when examiners objected to the desig,n citing instances of “prior art.”
“At one point, they were comparing my invention to a long thin funnel used for putting oil into a car,” he said. “I was already in for $7,000 dollars. So what do you do at that point? Just throw the invention out? So I ended up taking the case to the federal appeals court.”
Schreiber won his case, but still has had difficulty finding a company interested in manufacturing his product.
“Only between three and five percent of patents make back the money put into them,” he said. “Right now I’m still in the other 95 percent. There are three components that are necessary for a successful (invention): simplicity, functionality and manufacturing. I have the first two. I’m just looking for the last component.”
Schreiber hopes the INPEX convention goes a long way toward marketing the Fun-L-Top. INPEX is America’s largest invention trade show. With over 300 exhibitors, it’s a unique trade show that showcases new products and innovations that are available to business and industry to manufacture, license or distribute. Schreiber said he expects companies like Hasbro, Everlast and Tupperware to be in Pittsburgh next week.
“It’s a pretty good networking opportunity,” he said. “My product has never been put out to the general public like this. I’ll have a chance to pitch my invention to a lot of different people and get a feel for how the general public receives the idea.”
Schreiber thinks that theme parks are the ideal venue for his invention, which he says is also geared for prominent product advertising.
“Inventions are all about TLC: timing, luck and credit,” said Schreiber. “You’ve got to go big or not at all. There are a lot of crazy ideas. (The Fun-L-Top) has been sitting around for 18 years. I’m hopeful that (the INPEX show) will help get it some exposure.”