Inventors, continued from p. 1
offices, an awning was extended over the sidewalk, and in moments Debbie and Bob were ready to talk sleep and sleep disorders, especially sleep apnea, with any interested passerby.
The bus itself is wrapped in a collage of iconic American images fancifully arranged. The U. S. Capitol, for example, is pictured in the embrace of the St. Louis Arch. Debby revealed, though, that the ornamentation painted by the Rutans’
Rick Gordon graphic designer son Luke is both eyecatching and a protective device. The painting is executed on a sort of contact paper affixed with a peelable adhesive. When the Rutans complete their tour, the painted jacket will be pulled off, leaving the original paint job shiny new.
Rick Gordon, the eZe carry-on man, began his inventive quest in a maelstrom of frustration similar to the Rutans’. A frequent air traveler, he discovered he was sick and tired of making his way through airport security lines juggling three bags, one for his PAP machine and its power cord and hose, one for his laptop, and one for his clothing. Why not, he wondered, one bag for all three, a bag carefully dimensioned to fit in an airplane overhead compartment yet organized so that the lap top and the PAP machine were quickly accessible for security inspection?
Out of this description the eZe carry-on emerged, a tough black case replete with compartments and pockets that seemingly hold everything. Most modern PAP devices fit easily into the bag’ s upper compartment. Smaller machines fit into the plastic insert box that’ s supplied, larger machines slip into the well-padded compartment along with their cord and hose.
Upstairs, the PAP device.
The rest of the traveler’ s gear is folded and packed away in the lower, larger compartment. In a method unusual with suitcases, this bag is packed as it stands on its end. Should you meet Gordon in person, he’ s happy to show you how it’ s done. You also can see him pack the bag in a video on his firm’ s web site, www. ezeinnovations. com. First in, packed heel to toe, is a pair of shoes in a plastic bag. That’ s followed by socks and underwear, a pair or two of slacks, folded in quarters, then shirts, similarly folded, and finally, other items. A 15-inch or smaller lap top slides into the pocket of the flap that closes the compartment along with a folder or two of business papers.
Gordon vends the carry-on case online for $ 189.60 plus $ 23.85 for ship-
A letter from Executive Director Edward Grandi
One of the delights of the ASAA’ s CPAP Assistance Program is the gratitude with which patients respond after they receive their equipment. Many have sent us testimonies that using their donated devices has given them new, more hopeful lives.
Recently some of them, limited as they are by their difficult financial circumstances, have been scraping together $ 25 to become official members of the association. That move inevitably tightens their bond with us. The ASAA speaks for all sleep apnea patients, but it should be no surprise that the patients with whom we feel the closest bonds are those who engage us in continuing conversation, either directly or through the sleep apnea forum www. apneasupport. org, and who support our work
2 Fall 2012 financially in any amount.
Our larger donors also look to see evidence that we enjoy financial support from a broad array of patients. It’ s not just the big gifts that make a difference.
All of which leads me up to asking each one of you who reads this column, and especially those of you who are sleep apnea patients: Are you a current member of the American Sleep Apnea Association? We are your association and we need your help.
If you are not a member of the association, please consider joining now. There’ s a convenient application form on the back page of this newsletter.
If you are already a member, please take note of the holiday season and consider making an extra gift in support of our work.
Making a gift either way will help to further our mission and for many of you will be deductible on your income tax return. The ASAA is a 501( c)( 3) nonprofit charity.
For those who have contributed at two, three, or more times the membership dues amount, thank you! Having you stand with us in this way encourages us to continue spreading the word about sleep apnea and the serious health challenges it poses.
In this time of enormous change in the American health care system— how it’ s paid for, how care is provided, what diseases get the most attention— sleep apnea patients have a high stake in remaining at the policy planning table. Through the ASAA you will be there. But your help is needed to keep the office lights on, the copying machine humming, and the telephone, e-mail, and internet lines open. I greatly appreciate your financial support in the form of membership dues or more.
— Edward Grandi