Inventor seeks 'sharks' for Package Pally

Imagine coming home to your online deliveries tucked away in a “safe” as delivered by the courier.

Well, the possibility now exists with Package Pally, an invention by Trinidadian-born Raymond Sylvester James, who now resides in Florida.

The idea behind the creation was to find a solution that ensures packages ordered from online stores were not stolen or damaged when delivered to the customers’ doorsteps.

James, 39, created the Package Pally after his purchase was stolen from his porch in Jacksonville about three years ago.

“I ordered a package from Amazon. I was not at home, so I monitored the delivery on my phone, and when I returned home the package was gone,” he told Business Day.

Frustrated with his own experience and people constantly complaining about stolen packages, James decided to take matters in his own hands. Having a background in engineering – biomedical engineering technology to be exact – he worked on the product in his garage.

James said he began extensive research into security systems, originality, marketing, manufacturing and cost to make his idea a reality.

At first it was daunting for him – the cost of doing anything along this line meant he had to fork out money he did not have. There were days he thought about giving up.

It was not easy, he said, because creating a new product absorbs a lot of investment, both time and finances.

He explained that doing a patent search showed him the type of products that were available on the market to ensure that the idea he wanted to pursue was not already available or duplicated.

Path to app development

A patent search would also give information about any infringements on other patents that already existed and provided a scope of works into product development and patent protection.

Some of the areas covered in a patent search include eligibility, novelty, ownership of the invention, licensing rights, prototypes and manufacturing.

The search, James said was long and tedious, something he could not have accomplished without the kindness of his legal aid.

“The first thing I did was contact a lawyer and do a patent search. I went through the full process and the US patent and trademark is now mine.

“The initial patent search was US$250 but the process cost US$20,000 – money that I did not have at my disposal. Thankfully I had a good lawyer who allowed me to go through the process via a payment plan,” he said.

Working an eight-hour job at St Vincent Medical Center as an electrical engineer and having to come home to work on his invention became exhausting.

He said, “The prototype cost a lot. I would work a regular job and spend all my (free) time on developing this product. There was a lot of trial and error and the first prototype was completed after one week.

“The first prototype was successful in the sense that I proved the concept to myself. It was rough around the edges, but the concept worked. It was just made from a plastic bin, a drawstring bag and some hooks." It took three more tries to refine his concept before James was happy that the protoype reflected his vision.

Cameras keep an eye on deliveries

Package Pally is a re-enforced box in which packages are placed for safe keeping. It can be bolted to the floor or attached to a door. It comes with a camera with WiFi motion sensor and audio, an alarm with sensor vibration, a lock with keypad and Bluetooth access and a light with motion sensor.

There is a slot at the top of the box in which the delivery person slides the package in.

James said, “I did not have to work with a technology company to add WiFi or motion sensors, since the technology already exists. The product uses a portable Ring camera, which already has WiFi and motion sensors. The video footage can be backed-up and linked to the clients’ preferred security company.

“The Ring camera is secure and has been very good so far. I designed it (Package Pally) to fit the Ring stick-up camera, so that is why it works and fits just right inside the box.”

Ring is a camera brand of home security systems which carries indoor and outdoor cameras, stick-up cameras, floodlight cameras, doorbells and video surveillance. One of James’ hope was to partner with the company someday.

“I hope to form a partnership with the guy who invented Ring. He was a contestant on Shark Tank, a television show where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to investors. I also auditioned for Shark Tank, twice already and plan to do so third time. I am really hoping the third time is the charm for me,” James said.

He added there were also plans to explore Package Pally’s capabilities to be a home security system.

“I believe it can be used to deter theft or just keep an eye on someone’s home. Also, with the Ring App, it tells the neighbours what crime is going on in the neighbourhood. It is a pretty smart tool,” James noted.

Package Pally is however not available to the public yet and James is the only person who has the prototype.

Looking for a TT investor too

He told Business Day that plans were in the making to have the product available earlier this year but when the second wave of the covid19 pandemic struck, the manufacturing company which was handling the production line crashed.

James said, “I am looking for a manufacturer now because the manufacturing company which I was working with went out of business.

“I do not have prices, but I have the other things set up like the finished product, drawings, the trademark; but with the pandemic a lot of companies went out of business. Since then, it has been difficult to find a company to invest.”

He explained that he was not just looking at the US market for a manufacturer but was hoping to attract a local manufacturer and investor as well.

He said: “TT has a lot of manufacturers and I am hoping someone at home will see this as a good business opportunity for collaboration. This could be a positive experience for me and TT, as we create jobs and revenue together.

“I have also submitted proposals to Amazon, UPS, FedEx and others but there has been no feedback as yet in terms of them wanting to engage in a business venture with me. But I am sure as soon as the product picks up, the offers will be coming in,” he said excitedly.

James grew up in Point Fortin and then moved to Chaguanas where he completed his secondary education. During this time, he said he was interested in creating things but nothing definitive.

When he was 18, he migrated to the US Virgin Islands where he pursued additional programmes such as electrical technology, fiber optics and electrical construction.

When he settled in Jacksonville, Florida, James continued his academics and completed his bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering technology at Florida State University. While his job at St Vincent Medical Center has been challenging, James said the support of his family was critical in his achievement.

“I feel good knowing that where I came from, I made a mark for me, for TT and for the Caribbean. I am sure there are other people in TT who have great ideas about things to invent but there is no place for them to express that or get the required assistance,” he said.

A wish for young inventors

He explained that the process of creating Package Pally was costly and lobbied for an inventors school in TT – a space for people with ideas to gain the requisite knowledge, not just in product development but also the other steps to get the product on the market.

Citing funding as a major deterrent for inventors and entrepreneurs, because research, materials and even a workspace are costly, James said a more significant private/public sector partnership can assist tremendously.

“There are inventor academies all over the US and I wondered why TT does not have more investments in institutions such as this. Trinidadians are so resourceful – just look at the steelpan," he said.

“I think this is something the government and private sector could look into and I would be happy to give my input, expertise and help in whatever way I can.”

He encouraged young people to follow their dreams and pointed them to do research and patent searches online which can reduce the cost in the development of their product and ideas.

As for now, James said he felt accomplished with his work even if Package Pally does not make a "big hit".

“In my mind it is already a success. Not sure when last a Trinidadian got a US patent, but I believe it may have been very, long, long, long time ago. This is history. My job to bring it full circle and get it in the hands of people who need it. That's just the icing on the cake. Package Pally isn't the only invention he has in mind. James told Business Day he was not quite ready to reveal his new ideas just yet.

“My backup plans are not really backup because I am already doing it. I have a successful career and I have other inventions that I will continue to make, regardless if Package Pally is wildly successful.”

Inventors can file patents in TT

Locally, applications for patents and trademarks and other intellectual properties such as industrial design, new plant varieties, geographical indications, trade secrets and integrated circuits can be filed with the Intellectual Property Office of TT (TTIPO), which is under the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs.

In 2014, Apple Inc filed for its patent for the Apple Watch in TT. Because the US and TT are signatories to convention of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the US company was allowed to secure rights in a foreign country and then transfer them over to their home country, and within in a six-month period can apply for the same trademark in the US.

The Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), which receives technical and financial assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), is one of the organisations that has also been doing work in laboratory and field-testing, consulting, research and development and training to help entrepreneurs and innovators. Petrochemical, biotechnical, environmental, manufacturing, agribusiness, tourism and information communication technology (ICT) are some of the areas in which work is done. There are also NGOs, such as Youth Business TT (YBTT), that have been set up to guide entrepreneurs with their business model, to writing a business plan, acquiring funding, startup and post-startup measures to ensure its success.