Carpenter and inventor David Fryett has spent the last six years developing 12 prototypes at a cost of over £20,000 to bring his latest invention to market, but can thank his children for the original inspiration. Now Gogglows could become this Christmas’s must-have stocking filler for keen young swimmers.
Gogglows can be used as a fancy flashing goggle to encourage younger swimmers to put their face into the water as well as a standard non-illuminated goggle for swimming lessons. The lights flash for thirty seconds then automatically turn off and flash when the buttons on each side are pressed. A patented light shield protects the user’s eyes from the LED lights.
It was during a visit to their local pool in Dartford that swimming enthusiasts Clare and David Fryett came up with the idea for an innovative range of products which could make swimming even more fun for children and adults. They were watching their daughters, Holly and Olivia, train when a little girl walked past wearing a large, ugly pair of black goggles. Then a little boy ran past wearing LED flashing shoes. That gave them an idea. When they got home, they searched the internet for “flashing swimming goggles” and found nothing.
That was six years ago. Now the Fryetts have launched their very own range of innovative swimming products which includes Gogglows, the only LED flashing swimming goggles in the world. They filed their first patent application in 2005 and started work on the first prototype of the flashing goggles. One of their proudest moments came when they took one of the early prototypes to their daughters’ swimming club.
“Olivia was wearing the Gogglows prototype and you could see the lights flashing from one end of the pool to the other,” says Clare. “Within a few minutes, she had a large gathering of children around her. The other children kept asking Olivia to switch on the lights. When she swam up and down with the Gogglows flashing it was a proud moment watching from the poolside. We realised the true uniqueness of the product we had created and made the many years hard work well worthwhile.”
Whilst they were researching Gogglows they realized there was a market for other innovative swim-related products. So they formed their own company, Swimglows, and have developed a range of products which has turned their hobby into a business. The Swimglows range includes Gemglows and Coinglows, the first purpose-built dive toys in the world with LED flashing lights and timers; the Swimdana, a stylish adjustable bandana-style swimming cap made from material which protects the head from harmful ultraviolet sunrays; and Chameleon Caps, colour-changing swimming caps. Their products are manufactured in China.
David is a seasoned inventor. Back in 2005, he produced a builders’ tape measure with a built-in FM radio which used the five-metre steel measuring blade as the FM antenna. More than 30,000 items were sold. Two years ago he recorded a podcast with fellow inventor Trevor Baylis, who swam for Great Britain in his youth and invented the clockwork radio.
The Swimglows range of products are available from www.swimglows.com
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CONTACT DETAILS
For media enquiries please contact Clare or David Fryett
T: 020 8310 4193
M: 079 5058 2631
NOTES TO EDITORS
High res images available on request