Single-handed fishing kit reels in first place in invention competition

The Adaptive Fishing Kit, a kit that converts a standard fishing rod and reel so people can use it with only one arm, took the top prize and $10,000 in the 2007 Schoofs Prize for Creativity during the Innovation Days idea and invention competition at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The kit, with an estimated retail price of $120, would provide a means for amputees, stroke victims or others with injuries or paralysis to enjoy the sport of fishing.

Brian “Sunya” Nimityongskul got the idea for a system for one-armed fishing while recovering from shoulder surgery last summer. “I wanted to be fishing and not sitting at home,” he says. “Being an engineer, I decided I’d do something about it.” He worked on it during his free time, doing the design and machining himself, and then decided to enter his invention in the Innovation Days competitions, held Feb. 8 and 9.

The Adaptive Fishing Kit also won second place and $1,250 in the Tong Prototype Prize.

The first-place Tong Prototype Prize and $2,500 went to the Ladder CAT, a device for safely lifting loads up the entire span of an extension ladder. Students Dan Goesch, Elliot Haag, Logan Hamel, Mike Sracic and Dave Tengler created the device. The Ladder CAT also won second place in the Schoofs Prize for Creativity and the $1,000 Younkle Best Presentation Award. In addition, team member Sracic won the $1,000 Sorenson Design Notebook Award.

A panel of judges chose the winners based on creativity, innovation and probability of market success. Twenty ideas and inventions were presented during the two-day event.

Other Schoofs Prize for Creativity winners include:

— Third place and $4,000: BugsTOP, a pond-surface agitator that prevents mosquito breeding, developed by Paul Grogan, Kevin McMullen, Mike Tupek, Ryan Larson, Jacob Notbohm and Colin VanDercreek. This invention also won third place and $700 in the Tong Prototype Prize contest.

— Fourth place (tie) and $1,000: Smart Brake, an electronic device, invented by Adam Anders, that monitors wheel acceleration and applies brakes to prevent a Rollator walker from rolling away from its user on hills or during a fall.

— Fourth place (tie) and $1,000: Motorcycle Lighting Innovations, a helmet-mounted indicator system and map light for motorcycle drivers, invented by Chris Meyer.

Chemical engineering alumnus Richard J. Schoofs sponsors the Schoofs Prize for Creativity, and electrical and computer engineering alumnus Peter P. Tong sponsors the Tong Prototype Prize through the Tong Family Foundation.

Competition alumnus Matthew Younkle, president of Y Innovation LLC and president and CTO of Laminar Technologies LLC, sponsors the Younkle Best Presentation award. Chad Sorenson, a competition alumnus and judge, founding principal of Sologear Corp. and founder of Fluent Systems LLC, sponsors the Sorenson Design Notebook award.