Featured Story
Colorado Invention To Help Arthritis Sufferers

Littleton, CO - Opening doors is about to get easier for 250,000 American arthritis sufferers, thanks to Great Grips Doorknob Twisters and German pharmaceutical maker Hoechst. The inventors of Great Grips - Coloradoans Patrick Going and BillYoumans - announced that the pharmaceutical giant purchased 250,000 of their Great Grips doorknob covers to distribute at doctors' offices throughout the U.S (beginning September 1999) aspart of a promotional effort for Arava®, Hoechst's newly approved arthritis medication for reducing rheumatoid arthritis pain.

"The original idea behind Great Grips was to create an affordable and versatile solution to make it easier for everyone to grip and turn doorknobs, Going said, "especially seniors and people with arthritis. To be part of a national campaign for arthritis medicine puts us "in the hands" of our target market!"

Originated in 1989, these doorknob twisters have received special recognition over the years from the Arthritis Foundation, the Arthritis Society of Canada, the American Society on Aging, and the Wal-Mart Innovation Network (WIN) program. Great Grips realized its breakthrough a year ago when they teamed up with Colorado investor Ron Rubin and secured the production expertise of Steve Kaiser, a 25-year injection-molding veteran and managing partner at Moldrite Products, Inc. of Colorado Springs. As a result, Great Grips are now available in any color including a highly effective glow-in-the-dark version for home and business safety. As a special option, a company name, web address or phone number can be embossed on the front bumper for use as a promotional giveaway.

Great Grips are available through several national catalogs that focus on "aids-for-daily-living," direct mail order and overseas distributors in Canada, Australia, and England. Going and Youmans anticipate that the national promotional campaign with Hoechst will elevate their U.S. sales significantly and catch the attention of national retail outlets.

<< Back to News