Nassau County hosting inventors' showcase

The Luca brothers of Valley Stream, Alex, 36, and Dan, 46, have not yet made any money on their invention -- a device that keeps a window open just enough to allow in fresh air but not enough to let in a burglar -- but they have realized a part of their dream.

They can call themselves inventors because their Window Safe was featured recently on the home-shopping network QVC.

"It is selling," Alex said last week. "But we haven't taken any profits yet."

The Luca brothers will be among 12 inventors displaying their products July 30 at a showcase meeting of the Nassau County Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club, at the County Executive Building in Mineola. Nassau County is hosting the event. County Executive Ed Mangano said the inventors are a resource for future economic growth.

These are not giant ideas, like new operating systems for computers, but gadgets that make home cooking easier or devices to make hairstyling more simple, said club president Brian Fried, an inventor himself.

"It's an exciting time to be an inventor," he said. An invention could lead to a new career, or maybe extra income. "It's important to build up residual income, which could one day be your main source of income," Fried added.

He said inventors other than the 12 already selected may be considered. Contact him at brianfried@gmail.com. He said inventors other than the 12 already selected may be considered. Contact him at brianfried @gmail.com.