Lisa Miller has taken to the world of inventing with a simple, clean and cool idea; the Icecalator.
Miller, a Norwalk native and mother of two, was laid off from her job in the medical library at the Norwalk Hospital this past year after 20 years.
“I always thought there was a better way to have an ice bucket,” said Miller. “They never seemed quite clean to me. They”™re also so cumbersome and the tongs are always sunken in the ice.”
Miller said her inspiration arrived last summer while attending an upscale wedding and the bartender was using his hands to scoop the ice.
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“Even at this nice wedding there was nothing,” said Miller. “I decided it was worth going ahead and doing something about it.”
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Miller”™s first attempt came at a QVC inventor”™s conference.
“I was out of my league,” said Miller. “The first one was very raw and very rudimentary, but it worked and the idea worked.”
Miller went back to the drawing board and finally came up with a version she had confidence in. She founded her company 32 and Dropping.
“I think it”™s novel product but not novel like a pet rock,” said Miller. “It has worth for everyone.”
Miller is currently selling her product through her web site icecalator.com. She is also working part-time for Employee Benefit Solutions in Wilton as a customer service representative.
“It is designed so that tongs, scoops or any other utensils are not necessary,” said Miller. “You”™re hands never come in contact with the ice. With end-of-the-year festivities approaching and the H1N1 as such a concern, it”™s a timely, useful and sanitary item.
“I think those people who are entertaining during the holiday season or in the catering industry should see the simple value here, a hygienic way to dispense ice in a sanitary manner. It appeals to so many different markets. Whatever the level of the establishment is, the ice is always just out, it”™s always unsanitary.”
Miller said she sees the Icecalator being the first in a line of simple products that seek to improve everyday health for their users.
