Chris & Chris Fry Up New Ideas

Chris Perry and Chris Rogerson say their job as industrial technicians at Sara Lee's bakery plant in Tarboro has continually forced them to think outside the box. The mindset has led them to create five new "products for the common man," and form "Chris & Chris Enterprise LLC" to market them.

They have spent $40,000 to secure patents. They are marketing two of the products over the Internet and have contacted companies to see if they are interested in marketing the others.

“In our job (at Sara Lee) ad industrial technicians, we always have to be innovative so far as (developing) new ideas for the company and machinery, coming up with better ways to make products, “said Perry, a Battleboro community resident.

That acumen has led to the development of the “Bottle Top Lock,” which locks the top of soda bottle, alcoholic beverages, pill and cough syrup bottles and household chemicals.

Perry said the inspiration for the product came after they noticed that someone had gotten into their two-liter soda bottle in the crowded refrigerator at Sara Lee.

“I’ve always heard that desperation is the motive of all invention,” he said.

He said after the prototype was made, they figured the lock would also be used on potentially hazardous household products.

“The whole idea is based on safety,” Perry said.

Each package, which sells for $7.99, comes with one mini-brass lock and a small and large bottle top lock. For orders of 12 or more, Chris & Chris Enterprise will add a name or company logo.

Their company also is marketing the “Glove Huggie” over the Internet. It’s a bike-riding glove with a drink huggie attached to the outside of it, allowing a person to carry a drink while freeing up their hand for other use.

For example, Rogerson said, a person can carry a drink and use the same hand to hold a lawn mower.

He’s even used the device to hold bullets while he’s hunting.

“It can be used for multi purposes,” he said.

Another of their inventions, the “Turkey Jerker,” helps safely raise turkeys from hot oil fryers. The device consists of two fabricated metal arms joined by a welded ring that attaches to a hook.

Rogerson said he designed this product after Perry burned his arm with oil as he was trying to lift a turkey with a typical hanger hook.

“It works pretty good,” said Rogerson, who lives in Robersonville.

Perry said they have gone to a trade show in Orlando trying to promote the product to companies.

“We’re working with three to four grill companies,” Perry said. “Most companies we have talked to take a three-month evaluation process.”

They are also seeking a tool company to buy the patent and marketing the new wrenches – the “Straight Chain Puller” and the “90-Degree Chain Puller.” They said that they use the wrenches at the Sara Lee plant, and they work like a charm.

According to the company’s web page, ccebix1.com, the “Straight Chain Puller” makes chain pulling more “user friendly and efficient. It is designed to provide increased tension power with less effort.”

The “90-Degree Chain Puller” is another wrench that allowed users to reach around special master links and driving devices.

Rogerson said he and Perry have strengths that compliment each other well in their invention business.

“He’s (Perry) the idea man. I make the prototypes,” Rogerson said.