C2 - Sunday, January 8, 1984 - North Shore News cigarettes lifted up so you didn’t have to fumble around,’’ explained Phillips. Not a bad idea. But when Phillips had a lawyer do a search, he found five other inventors had patents on similar cigarette boxes. ‘“*The others had devised pretty elaborate ones — one (box) would present just one Cigarette, another one would present (a cigarette) already lit,’’ said Phillips. Although on file, these inventions were not considered ‘‘practical from a marketing point of view,’” he said. Phillips also developed badminton § shuttlecocks made out of rayon. for- tunately, this was just before nylon was developed — a much tougher material, bet- ter suited for making shut- tlecocks, said Phillips. ‘‘Nothing much came of that,’’ he said. Inventing has never been more than a sideline for Phillips. Over the years he’s supported himself by doing finishing carpentry, and he once worked for a= short period as a_ fisherman. hm Phillips writes science fiction in his spare time, and has ‘“‘three novels on, more or less, hold.’” He used to regularly freelance stories to a magazine called ‘‘Astoun- ding Science Fiction,’’ he said. Phillips’ inventing ability may be inherited. ‘‘One of my ancestors was John Smeeton, who was the first civil engineer, in fact, he coined the phrase,’’ Phillips said, finding an encyclopedia entry that indeed tells of an English engineer named John Smeeton, who died in 1792. ‘*His big thing was that he designed a windmill able to Start in a five-mile-an-hour wind.”’ Phillips has at least two new inventions now in the works. food dehydrator. It would fit right over a burner, and Phillips said it could be run overnight when the = stove isn’t being used. He says it ‘twill be a lot cheaper than the ones on the market right and a now, lot’ more convenient.’ And then there's the “‘cherry-splitter-pitter.’’ Phillips says although there are hand-operated cherry pit- ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE LEARN ITALIAN EVENING COURSES FOR BEGINNERS, INTERMEDIATE AND°ADVANCED WINTER SESSION JAN. 16-APR. 11/84 MON. and WED. 7:30-9:30 p.m. for Info and Registration Ph. 430-3337 3075 Slocan Street Vancouver, B.C. VSM 3E4 One is a stove-top’ 987-3388 Inventing’s just a sideline FROM PAGE C1 ters on the market now, to dry cherries you have to also cut them in two — ‘‘a hell of a tedious job.’’ The cherry- splitter-pitter is foot-opera- ted, and it splits as well as pits the cherry. Phillips says most of hig in- ventions come about when he improvises a tool to make a job easier. Necessity literally does become the mother of invention. But he says it’s hard to describe the type of person inventor. ‘It’s not something you can study at university,’’ he says. ‘‘The attitude of the in- ventor is ‘everything that is done, is done the wrong way.’ You just keep looking for the right way. ‘‘There was an American — I can’t remember his name -—— who said the formula for inventing is: ‘You simplicate, and add more lightness.’ Laan that becomes an all knitting wool until Jan. 21/84 HM indicia > Hid 461 Dollarton Hau NN Psychic and Tarot TRACY WHEELER in residence READINGS || ry reservation only ues to Saturda - llam reading, “Dare 3pm ('% Lunch reservations available before or after your not doubt me today or tomorrow” (Across from the Capilano suspension bridge) 929-2616 hour minimum) Land | in sight INTENT ON wat- ching the horizon, ferry travellers watch Bowen Island appear out of the mist as they near Horseshoe Bay from Nanaimo. Ca a Jeanan Designs GS Professional School of Dress Pattern Design & Dressmaking Learn to sew with confidence in Jeanan Designs Dressmaking Classes; or make your own patterns, and express yourself by term begins Jan. 16/84. Pre-registration Jan. 8 - Jan. 14. Term 1: 10 weeks (20 hours) $85.00 N.B. Class size limited for maximum individual attention PHONE: 986-0914 for full details 102 B-1124 Lonsdale Ave., North Van. | a “= LOOKING GOOD Let Helen show you how! YK Helen, a European trained Esthetician, has just joined us at the EET em t-t-3 and brings with her the latest in skin care techniques For a limited time you can treat yourself to 20% OFF ON any treatment. (offer expires January 31, 1984) Featuring products from @ LESTREL @ ORLY e@ STENDAHL 985-7168 TOMORROW'S DREAM TODAY ae WHEN NATURE CAN’T: WE CAN! CALL TODAY Vacs | ‘“ Llasheds STUDIO. North Van 980-5797 | Alst & Oak © 263-2785 WestEnd © 687-9965 designing your own clothes tarough our Design Courses. Winter tC: