Thats genius, and a cheap solution you can mass produce.

Looks like I'm going to be the first person in this thread to say NOT HOT.

What is stopping a toddler from simply giving this thing a throw and then proceeding to climb the stairs?

Well, having been in your situation with a few of my own ideas and taken it as far but never further than you thus far, have and having to think about the value of things compared to others that may or may not be better but get the same over all job done I would have to say be competitive with "the gate" when it's sitting in walmart next to "the gate" it will be purchased if it's close to or LESS than the gate... Walmart excepted a product of mine in A regional meeting I learned a lot from them, unfortunately it's all on consignment in walmarts and my partner got cancer before production and opted out due to his health, never made it into the stores....

There is a dozen ways I can already think of to hold that object tight into place NO PROBLEM

great idea...kids everywhere should thank you! yay...no more head injuries! i like the idea of stacking a few up after the kids go to bed. sliding down the staircase in sleeping bags is a favorite pastime of mine. of course, don't let the chillun see

I can think of ways too, but then suddenly this is no longer a piece of foam that costs nothing to produce. The locking mechanism would have to be something that kids can't figure out, even by accident.

Another thing is that the foam will have to be very dense. Otherwise the indentations would be too big when you put weight on it and the kid would just go right up the foam. However having a true ramp surface could be trouble also. What if a kid finds a way up it and then falls at the top? He would slide down the ramp and possibly crack his skull on the floor.

I think the basic concept is pretty good, but the safety aspect is going to have to be very well thought out. As it is right now, this thing is potentially more dangerous than open stairs.

Killer idea! I would be in the market for one of these, however I also have doubts about some of the safety issues. I think your biggest issue is including a deterrent (or warning system) for people coming DOWN the stairs.

My wife has the wonderful tendency of leaving clothing on the bottom of our stairs, on which I've almost broken my neck several times. I can only imagine the torn groins and busted skulls on this item without some kind of deterrent.

I would still buy on though ... please keep us posted :)

All that aside, I forgot to say that I wish I thought of this first. I wish you great success!

Mike

It will sell.

It will sell so well that i predict china copying your product as soon as it hits the market, just like what they do with everything thats cheap to manufacture :-(

Thanks for the great feedback everyone!:thumbsup

I can see you missed the part about the optional fasteners in the outline I wrote.

Very simple. First of all, my little guy tried to move it a million times. But, see, you have to lean on it to grab it because it's at an angle, and the childs body weight holds it down. I've video taped him trying to beat it for hours. No luck. he gets very frustrated.

Now that he's a little older and can reach the top, it doesn't really matter because the (optional) fastening hardware (just in case) can be used in this case. It's two elastic bands attached at the center so it makes an "X" on each end there's a small rounded plastic "S" shaped fasteners (I found them at a craft store, they are cheap). The elastic band hooks on the stairs like bungee cords and holds it down. If necissary you can screw small "eyes" into the side walls to hook them on. It's a safe alternative to nothing, and a couple small screw holes are no big deal.

As far as the liability issue. I don't buy it one bit. You can break your ass on gates and just about anything for that matter from matchbox cars to tonka trucks, the cases get thrown out of court all the time if a person has the onions to sue in the first place. this is ultra safe because you are putting it there on purpose. if you forget it's there or a family member does not know it is not a manufacturing flaw but stupidity. People walk into gates all the time.

Good idea in my book

haha, very interesting :)

Great idea! If the surface is slippery enough, you could sell it to the pet market as well to keep (small) dogs from going upstairs. Or you could also make a longer version for bigger dogs. I didn't read the entire thread so I'll apologize in advance if anyone already said this...lol

Nice job man. :)

That stair case of yours wouldn't have a hope in hell of passing building code inspections in Canada. You'd have to alter it before you could sell your property. It's barely even safe for adults let alone babies!

i think this is an great idea !

Very smart and unique invention there. Definitely 'hot'! Best of luck making lots of cash from it! :)

i think it's good idea for sure. find and answer to a problem as you did and you have a winner

Wow, Canadian building codes are that strict? This staircase is opposite my front door separating the great room from the dining room. It is the main staircase for the second floor, and has obviously cleared several inspections, since you need town building code approval in order to build, and since we are not original owners and had the house inspected in order to buy it. I've had it appraised and inspected since so I know it's up to NY code. I even have all the CO's for the deck, in ground pool, and Gazebo.

I do agree that it is dangerous...and thus the mother of my invention.

I like it, it's a fantastic idea!

Actually, this is true our pug also cannot get up the stairs. the stairway is about 6 or 7 feet from the door so she cannot get a running start enough to get past it without sliding down.

So, yes. It would work with pets as well.