
I was startled, and so was the pickpocket, who dropped the wallet and ran. While on a back street looking in store windows, a pickpocket approached her from the rear, unzipped the backpack and was in the midst of removing her wallet when she let out a scream. My wife Sandra and I were on a business trip to Paris she had her wallet in a backpack-like handbag on her shoulders. The Zip-R-Lok story begins with a personal experience that motivated me sufficiently to dream up a product that almost solved the problem.

But of course I did, because they were purely emotional decisions, and we all know how “love” can effect everything. As I look back on some of these decisions, I find it hard to believe that I actually made them. Falling in love with your invention, no matter what it is, leads to making serious decisions based on emotion, not business sense.

I give credit to the designers and marketers of these recent anti-theft devices for purses and carry bags for their vision-and for the cleverness that did not prevail with the Zip-R-Lok.īefore I progress too far, the most important lesson to be learned by new inventors is: “Do not fall in love with your invention!” Of course, I have done this several times, so I am speaking from experience. And you will understand, after looking at the Zip-R-Lok, why it failed.

Most of you have probably seen the current snaps and reverse latches on purses and carry bags sold in travel stores today.
