For release 25th of August, 2015
Australian Couple take Idea from Kitchen to Kickstarter.
‘Where’s my damned glasses?”
An Adelaide husband and wife team are about to launch an innovative product to the world through the US Kickstarter online portal.
Steve, a firefighter and Cheryl, a hairdresser, have spent almost 2 years designing, prototyping and developing Lenzcase – your phone case with ‘spring-loaded’ reading glasses, tucked away “for when you really need them” in the back of the case.
Lenzcase is sleek and lightweight with chamfered edges, clean lines and subtle textured surface which provides a perfect match for iPhone.
“The idea came to me when I was trying to fit my bulky glasses case into my clutch purse, before heading out to dinner,” says Cheryl Grealy
“It occurred to me that people always take their ‘phone’ but would rather not bother with their bulky readers case . . . if only they could!
“But we are constantly caught out by small print on a menu or straining to read a document in a dull office or restaurant.
“How many times have you see people swapping their spectacles in a restaurant or heard someone ask if they can borrow another person’s glasses?”
The Lenzcase reading glasses come in +2, +2.5, +3 and +3.5 dioptre strengths, but it is the innovative case design which sets Lenzcase apart.
The Grealy’s and their team developed an extraordinarily slim case using a super thin internal aluminum plate held in place with micro sized aircraft-grade machine screws giving the Lenzcase™ a robust yet lightweight rigidity.
The exoskeleton/skin of high quality poly-carbonate provides a combination of lightweight strength, clean lines with great functionality. Using a clever ‘switchblade action’ configuration of low tensile coil spring, ball race and carriage, the glasses are suddenly right there for a quick 10 or 20 second read, and then instantly slotted back into the case’s recess.
Mr Grealy says he had the help of Adelaide’s best industrial designers and engineers in the development of Lenzcase.
Daniel Brown a University of Adelaide graduate in mechanical/aerospace engineering worked on 3D modelling for Lenzcase, providing print outs of the finished product way ahead of anything Mr. Grealy could sources overseas.
Industrial designer Jara Prouza’s company Prouza Design situated in the northern suburbs, often uses the Hills Innovation Centre at Tonsley Park for high quality 3D printing. He applied his experience in product design and manufacturing to the development of Lenzcase, one of the many local and national companies he has helped through participation in product development programs for global manufacturers.
“So we have had first-class help from within our very own state,” Mr Grealy adds.
“And, importantly, we have had the support of many of our friends and colleagues to get us to this point.”
He believes launching Lenzcase through Kickstarter in the US will provide a solid foundation to bringing the product to the world. Globally there have been over 100 million iPhone 6 units sold, and given 1 in 5 Americans (1 in 4 Boomers) needs reading assistance, the market is huge.
Since its own start up in 2009, Kickstarter has supported more than 90,000 creative projects.
With Lenzcase now being manufactured in China, Mr Grealy says the product will be launched on Kickstarter on the 25th of August this year.
“With their support, Lenzcase will be ready to retail in plenty of time for Christmas,” he says.
The product will sell for $US29 to US$49 depending on options and packaging, plus world-wide postage of $US10.
Mr Grealy admits the road to this point has been tough but he’s confident of success.
“You’ll never have to worry about forgetting your glasses again; or better still, choose to leave that bulky glasses case home tonight!” Mr Grealy adds.
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More information:
Lenzcase Pty Ltd – Adelaide, Australia
Lenzcase LLC – Hawaii, USA
Founders: Steve & Cheryl-Anne Grealy
Ph: +61 404 873 079
Email: Steve@Lenzcase.com