One might recall the main protagonist in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a determined inventor, who ultimately succeeds in creating a car that can fly. In the world of invention, achieving success is not without its challenges, even with significant financial backing. This is exemplified by creations such as the Dyson vacuum and Sinclair’s C5 battery-operated car. This, however, has not demotivated Patricia Mangan, who has already succeeded in launching an internationally-selling product and is nearing the completion of another. Her recent invention, the Orbysun hybrid clothes dryer, offers a solution to the recurring problem of drying clothes in adverse weather.
Mangan is never without a sketchbook and drawing pad on her person, as she believes in capturing ideas when they occur. “Ideas can sometimes be fleeting, they need to be recorded immediately,” as she expresses. During the day, Mangan’s profession as an architect involves designing unique houses with minimal environmental footprint. However, her evenings are often spent inventing products inspired by her love for interior designing.
She is often dismayed by how essential yet visually displeasing household appliances can disrupt the beauty of a home. “For me, the joy of inventing lies in problem solving, design, improving lives and creating aesthetically-pleasing products,” Mangan affirms. “It’s an honour to design a home for someone, but the thrill of designing a product is entirely different.”
This was the case with the conventional baby gate, which she considered unattractive in stylish modern homes. Her answer to this was a minimalist approach that is now internationally marketed under several names, including Fred in Ireland.
“Multiple product ideas, including the baby gate, were in my mind. I discussed them with Declan Kinahan, a college friend knowledgeable about products and he advised to kickstart with the gate. Hence, I visited a trade fair in Germany to research its market prospects. Upon my return, I enhanced the design and sought the help of a patent attorney to secure IP rights,” Mangan recounts.
In a later trip to Hong Kong’s trade fair, Mangan showcased her design to the family that owns veteran Danish child safety product company, Safe Care Co. They were so captivated by her idea that a licensing agreement was immediately finalised. Nevertheless, it was another two years before the gate was mass produced.
Mangan notes that the process of creating the gate was both time-consuming and expensive due to the cost of intellectual property and patent safety measures. Securing the licensing agreement was a stroke of luck, but it also necessitated substantial effort and risk-taking, made more challenging considering her circumstances as a single mother of three children and a small-scale architect in the middle of a slump. Despite the promising nature of the product, introducing new products to the market can be tricky, requiring both education and persuasion.
During a difficult economic period in the late 80s, Mangan obtained her architectural degree from Bolton Street. To find work, Mangan, along with a majority of her peers, had to relocate abroad. She began her professional journey in London at Max Hutchinson & Partners, before joining Jean Nouvel, the renowned French architect, in Paris. Mangan opened her own firm, Studio M, in Dublin at the end of the 90s, and co-founded Maikology with Kinahan in 2017 to commercialise her innovations.
Mangan remarks that although she is full of product ideas, she is not a manufacturer. Therefore, the best experts in design, engineering, prototype preparation, and intellectual property are hired to bring the idea to fruition. She is currently seeking a manufacturing partner interested in sustainable production for creating her invention, the Orbysun dryer.
Highlighting the health hazards and aesthetic drawbacks of drying clothes on radiators or hanging them inside, Mangan talks about the moisture accumulation that can lead to condensation, mould and increased risks of asthma and eczema. Tumble dryers pose their own issues with high operational costs and elevated carbon dioxide levels. They also have to wrestle with the elements, pollen, and pollution when drying clothes outdoors and the problems of dust, sand, and high humidity prevalent in warm climates.
Mangan’s innovation is a combined dryer that works on either solar or regular electricity and resembles a tall suitcase. The clothes are safe from external factors when used outside because of the dryer’s enclosed design. She was motivated by the inconvenience of frequently having to collect clothes when it rained in her youth in Mayo and aimed for a design with the smallest surface area and the most substantial drying volume.
Mangan has calculated that the financial investment in Orbysun to date is approximately €350,000, in addition to a significant input of sweat equity. The unit has successfully completed its testing phase, impressing with its performance. Just as they were on the verge of finalising a manufacturer, the Covid pandemic created an unforeseen obstacle, causing prospective manufacturers to be cautious about taking risks.
Mangan shared that invention is not for the faint-hearted; it requires a substantial amount of faith in your project and a lifestyle of awaiting financial return. Introducing a groundbreaking product isn’t easy, as it necessitates not just promoting, but also educating the market about the concept, even if it’s a considerable enhancement on existing products.