Patent Attorney John Rizvi, Founder of The Patent Professor®, a flat-fee intellectual property firm based in Coral Springs, Florida, is pleased to announce that his client, inventor Dr. Brian Travers, has been featured in major media outlets for his see-through masks. Travers, a former doctor, lost his hearing in 2002. He conceived the idea of creating see-through face masks after the COVID-19 pandemic. Having been accustomed to communicating with people by reading lips, Travers struggled to communicate with people wearing masks. Frustrated, he began to avoid situations like grocery shopping, where he would have to interact with masked clerks and fellow shoppers.
Travers soon figured other deaf and hard-of-hearing people shared the same problem. That’s when he came up with an idea for a mask featuring a window to enable open communication. He’d already taught himself to sew face masks in March of 2020 when the pandemic first hit. With his novel concept in mind, he sat at his dining room table and began working on a prototype with an opening covered by clear plastic. The result? Major media outlets like The Washington Post and Today.com featured Travers and his new invention.
The Today.com article shares how Asli Knowles, a Publix employee who wanted to easily communicate with deaf and hard-of-hearing shoppers who could see her face, saw Travers’ Instagram posts and reached out to him. “I like to smile,” she wrote, “and I think this pandemic is upsetting everyone, and I want to make my customers happy with my smile.”
Moved by her request, Travers sent a letter to her managers. “Alsi’s reason for wanting my clear, see-through facial covering with a plastic window is the most selfless reason I have ever encountered. She is an asset to her organization,” he stated.
When the popular Instagram account, Some Good News, posted the story and the mask, thousands of people embraced Knowles and Travers' story. Demand for the see-through masks soon skyrocketed, with Travers sewing about eight to 10 masks per hour. It often takes him weeks to fill an order, but he sent one to Knowles immediately. Now, she can greet Publix customers with a smile and serve those with hearing impairments. Thanks to Travers, she has also gained recognition from Publix management for her willingness to go the extra mile for their customers.
The Washington Post, WPLG Local 10 News, CBS Miami, and Impact Moments also featured Travers and his invention. Previously, The Kelly Clarkson Show spotlighted Travers when he wept upon hearing his wife’s voice for the first time in 10 years following a cochlear implant.
“Brian Travers’ story illustrates why I chose to go into patent law,” enthuses John Rizvi. “It is an honor to have represented someone whose invention has made a tremendous impact on other people's lives during one of the most difficult times in recent history. Brian represents the best of what human beings can accomplish when they ask themselves how they can improve people’s lives in their communities. Everyone at The Patent Professor® congratulates Brian on a job well done.”
About The Patent Professor
John Rizvi, Esq., Founder of The Patent Professor, is board-certified by the Florida Bar as a Specialist in Intellectual Property Law. The Patent Professor ® has been recognized by Inc Magazine and listed in the Inc5000 as among the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. The Patent Professor® team consists of board-certified patent attorneys, former U.S.P.T.O. patent examiners, registered patent agents, engineers, designers, and illustrators specializing exclusively in protecting new ideas and brand identities. The firm was ranked among the fastest-growing law firms on the Law Firm 500 List for 2020.
If you are an inventor looking for professional advice on making your idea a reality, don’t hesitate to contact John Rizvi today at 1-877-330-7492. He will happily offer you his expert advice and invaluable experience at an affordable rate.