Inventor wants to clear the air on Yardy cart fix

By Kim Brokaw

Research was completed on the Yardy cart in 2007 by Vernon Research. Using three different approaches, Web-based, scientific incidence and focus group, this study concluded that more than 2,400 injuries had occurred among users in Cedar Rapids. Of this number, nearly 500 people required emergency room care and an additional 200 sought a doctor's attention.

The city reports a low number have come forth to report their injuries. I have acknowledged this as the research shows that less than 2 percent of those injured have done so. Focus group participants explained that this was because of embarrassment and feeling that it was an isolated incident. I did not report my injury to the city.

It is incorrect to portray that these accidents could have been prevented by simply following the instructions and closing the lid when moving the cart. In all of our documentation, we have presented that people have been injured in four other manners besides moving the cart with the lid open. People have been injured when loading their cart while not moving it and when moving their cart with the lid closed. The greater share of these injuries is not because of carelessness or improper use but is occurring with everyday normal use of the cart because of an inherent design flaw with the Yardy cart, and it is an industrywide problem.

In parallel with my approach to the city, I have attempted to market my CartGuard to cart manufacturers. The largest manufacturer in the industry, Toter, acknowledged the injury problem as officials told of an anti-tip device, the “kickstand,” it attempted to develop. Toter confirmed that my CartGuard definitely would eliminate the injuries that its kickstand failed to prevent. I have faced some reluctance as concern has been expressed that by adding the CartGuard, Toter may in essence be admitting that it has been selling a defective product.

Questions have been asked as to “why is the city funding an entrepreneur?” Be very clear about this: The city has not and will not be funding my business. I have invested more than $200,000 toward the development and marketing of the CartGuard. The only funding that has been talked of is the possibility of entering into an agreement with the city whereas I would be refunding money to the city (as in a rebate) based on subsequent sales of the CartGuard. This is an idea introduced by City Council member Kris Gulick to which I have agreed to work toward. A successful adaptation ultimately could lead to the city receiving these 54,000 CartGuards at no charge, along with the opportunity of earning revenue for the city.

The CartGuard is priced at $8 per unit. The city would allocate $2 more for installation.

One avenue under discussion has been to use excess reserve funds from the Solid Waste Department. Under this course, the public would not see any increases in utility bills. In the worse-case scenario, a plan of amortizing and expensing the purchase through the utility budget would produce an increase of as little as 15 cents per month. This is an extremely low-price solution to a serious problem.

(More information in my ad on page 5A and at www.neighborhood

networknews.com)

Kim Brokaw of Cedar Rapids is the former owner of Brokaw Vending. He is the developer of the patented product, the CartGuard, that the City Council is considering for use on Yardy carts.