Long-term Territorian Les O’Brien came up with one of the quirkiest - but useful - inventions in the Northern Territory after what he calls a ‘light bulb moment’.
He was pouring with sweat while working ‘out bush’ with beekeeper Andrew Shugg of Bees Creek Honey when he asked himself: ‘There must be a way to cool down.’
Les went home and invented the Turbofan at his kitchen table in Howard Springs on the outskirts of Darwin.
He says the ventilator - a 12‑volt fan the size of two packets of cigarettes and weighing less than one kilogram, including battery - can be used to relieve heat stress.
While originally designed for serious outdoor work, Les believes the Turbofan is also effective in a vast range of jobs, from roofers to gardeners, from plumbers to racing car drivers.
The basic model delivers a flow of fresh air inside the shirt void and an air-conditioned model draws air through a camel back filled with dry ice for extreme conditions.
“I can see hundreds of uses for it,” he says.
Les has received two grants under the Territory Government’s popular Business Innovation Support Initiatives (BISI) program.
The first was used to prove the prototypes and to ensure intellectual property rights through a patent application.
The second will be used to move the prototypes into a more robust and streamlined style to enable large-scale manufacture.
Les says the ‘enormous support and motivation’ provided by the BISI grants had enabled his innovation to move rapidly from idea to the cusp of production.
“The BISI program assisted me with accessing sound practical advice and part funding to ensure intellectual property protection and progress through the patenting hurdles, which is all preparatory to getting an idea into production and onto the market.”
Les is now looking for an investor to mass produce Turbofan.
“It won’t work as a cottage industry,” he says. “It needs mass production in a country such as China to keep costs down and have an affordable product.”
The BISI helps Northern Territory businesses undertake research and development that could lead to new products, processes or services.
Projects are supported in science, engineering, technology and design.
Grants can be awarded for:
- conducting knowledge searches - scientific, technical, and intellectual property
- developing experimental plans with researchers
- research and development activities and trials
- feasibility studies
- building prototypes
- obtaining patents
- accessing specialist research facilities.
The innovation voucher scheme is open year round and provides up to 60% support for eligible projects. Each voucher is worth up to $25,000, exclusive of GST. For more information, go to the Northern Territory Government website or contact us.