Spilled milk inspires gadget
Spilled milk inspires gadget that controls flow and stops dribbles
Frustration sparked inspiration after inventor Andrew Offord sloshed too much milk into his tea for the umpteenth time.
Offord and business partner Dennis Atkinson teamed up with Camosun College to create a spout that screws onto the top of two- and-four-litre plastic milk jugs to control the flow and stop any dribbles down its side. “It just makes the whole process easier,” said Offord.
Their “Capella” milk spout is priced at $2 and is now being sold in six Thrifty Food stores — but its inventors are aiming for wider distribution.
Originally from the U.K., Offord, 44, was not used to the big milk jugs in Canada. When pouring milk directly from a jug into a cup or cereal bowl, “you can’t control it when it’s full. It tends to go over the sides.”
The Capella works. Twist on the new spout and the milk comes out in a more easily managed stream. The spout closes with a push of a thumb. Its head can be rotated to pour in any direction. If you accidentally throw it out, it can be recycled. It is made with BPAfree plastic.
Offord, who used to have a car detailing business, met Atkinson, who used to have a 1967 Mustang, at a car show five years ago. They became friends and Offord shared his idea. As a jeweler, Atkinson, 60, is used to detailed work and crafted an initial prototype out of wax.
The pair contacted Camosun College’s Centre for Applied Research and Innovation, which helps and fosters local businesses with ideas and products.
Mechanical engineering instructor and researcher Imtehaze Heerah went to work with them right away. “I thought it was a good idea from the get-go,” he said.
He created a 3-D computer model and sent it to Manitoba where a prototype was created. Since then, Camosun has obtained more sophisticated equipment able to produce prototypes using a wide range of plastics.
The Capella has been modified and refined in Victoria and in China, where it is manufactured. Atkinson praised Camosun, saying that it only cost a few thousand dollars for that assistance, compared with what could have easily been $25,000 or more elsewhere.
Heerah has also turned into a fan, calling the design “very elegant.”
“I use it all the time,” he said. “It just makes life a bit easier.”
In late 2010, Offord and Atkinson travelled to China to meet with a manufacturer. So far, 2,000 spouts have been produced. Some are white, for the milk jugs. A blue-coloured spout, with a different thread and made from recycled plastics, has been created to fit onto products such as antifreeze and windshield wiper bottles.
The industrial use spout is not in retail stores yet. The pair is seeking distributors, saying this spout will help the environment by reducing spilling of chemicals, and will also prevent waste.
Like other new entrepreneurs, Offord and Atkinson work long hours. Offord sells cars during the day and Atkinson works as a gem-setter for local jewelry stores. At night, they both work cleaning Air Canada aircraft. They named their company John Ashley Group, using their middle names.
“We are a six-year overnight success,” Atkinson said. “We wouldn’t be anywhere today without the expertise of Imtehaze and the resources of Camosun College.” On the Web: www.milkspout.com and www.sure-spout.com