Kickstarting an easy solution to a common problem
Health & Medical
CHERYL-Anne Grealy’s desire to reclaim the precious real estate her husband’s bulky glasses case hogged in her handbag spawned a unique solution.
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Along with husband Steve, the South Australian couple have just created a mobile phone case that can also carry a pair of reading glasses – without compromising size.
The “pocket’’ for the glasses increases the thickness of a standard iPhone 6 case by just 6.5 millimetres.
“We were in the kitchen one evening just before heading out for the night, and I handed Cheryl-Anne my glasses case to put in her handbag,” says Steve. “She just said ‘I wish my phone was a glasses case’.’’
That comment sparked two years of research and development culminating in the Lenzcase – which the couple launched on Kickstarter this week.
“Our goal is to raise US$28,000,’’ Steve says. “Ideally we would like to get 1000 people putting in $28 not 28 people putting in $1000.”
“When they’re finished using them they just slide back into the strong polycarbonate case until they click in to place,” says Steve.
The couple was able to create prototypes using a 3D printer in Adelaide.
“Once we had a working model is was a case of making constant refinements to get the ideal design,’’ Steve said.
“We chose to do the research and development ourselves instead of funding that aspect through Kickstarter so we actually had a fully working model ready to go when we listed.’’
Within two days of listing, the product as attracted investment approaching $6000.
“The glasses don’t have any “arms’’ and I’ve found it is quite handy just to hold the phone case up to your eyes and look through one lens,’’ he says.
“It is an absolute pain to forget your glasses when you go out. It’s hard to read menus or check receipts or even read messages on your mobile phone. You have to use three fingers to increase the size of the screen and if you’re on a website that often means you only seeing about a third of what you’re trying to read.’’
The glasses are available in four different strengths of 2, 2.5, 3 and 3.5 magnifications.
“They’re not a magnifying lens, you have to hold the glasses up to your eyes to be able to read something,’’ Steve says.
“We don’t think people will often forget to take their mobile phone with them when they go out so hopefully it turns out to great solution for a lot of people.’’
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