Student designs device that offers help in the kitchen

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Being on the cutting edge inspired a University of Kansas student to design a kitchen aid that won second place in a national competition.

Nathan Clark, a junior majoring in industrial design, was tired of slicing his fingers when preparing fruits or vegetables. After cutting his fingers several times, Clark designed a device -- Talos -- to protect his hands.

"I'm missing most of a fingerprint on my index finger," said Clark, who graduated from Topeka's Cair Paravel-Latin School. "I cut it off. That's why I designed Talos."

Talos is a flexible device that fits over the thumb and index finger. The device provides a cutting surface so one's fingers don't get cut during food preparation.

"It's designed mostly for klutzes like me," Clark said.

He plans to make a smaller design for children who want to help in the kitchen.

Clark invented Talos for an industrial design class last semester. Students were given assignments to design or redesign different devices.

Eight weeks into the semester, Clark realized that one of his designs wasn't working out. He had a few weeks to come up with another -- and Talos began to take shape. He sketched the design, then made a paper model.

The next step was market and user research. He made a usable plastic model to demonstrate his idea.

"Everybody I talked to liked it," Clark said. "People already have the cutting board. They already have the knives, and they buy the fruit every day. This would be a $2 addition to the knife set that would keep them substantially safer."

Last semester, Clark entered Talos into a competition with the International Housewares Association. Talos took second out of more than 200 entries, netting Clark $1,500 and an all-expense-paid trip to show his design to the public and potential buyers at the International Housewares Show in Chicago in mid-January.

"Nathan's invention was considered exciting because it was so simple," said Vicki Matranga, design program coordinator at the International Housewares Association. "People are always concerned about cutting themselves."

Clark's invention sparked interest on a national level.

"At the show, everyone wanted to cut something up," Clark said. "I think I went through more than a dozen oranges. A lot of people who had experience in the kitchen were excited, and they were showing me battle wounds."

Clark received suggestions from people who wanted him to modify his invention to specific industries.

"Everyone thought it should be changed and adapted, so it could work for them," he said.

Clark's invention is in the early stages of development. He is getting Talos licensed and manufactured, so he can sell it. Talos is under a provisional patent, which protects Clark against someone copying it.

Clark long has been interested in inventing things and putting things together.

"He has always loved art," said Jayne Clark, his mother. "He loves to take apart things and put them back together. When he was little, we used to go to garage sales and buy things like old toasters so that he could take them apart and see how they worked."

Dave Clark, his father, recalls Nathan Clark's need for creativity.

"It was always a challenge to keep him supplied with items," Dave Clark said. "We were always buying him crayons and paint and things for him to take apart."

During his free time, Nathan Clark enjoys spending his time with the Christian Campus Ministry.

"We draw the community in and build a strong infrastructure," he said, "and then go to the schools and talk to the kids and try to bring them into the ministry."

Clark also enjoys spending time with friends.

"I enjoy having conversations with people and building relationships," Clark said. "I just like to have a good time."

Clark plans to graduate from Kansas in December and expects to have many career choices.

"Industrial design covers everything from Web design to interface down to how do you make the next food dehydrator," he said.

Clark eventually would like to spend his life in missions. Recently, Clark went to Galiona, Mexico, to help build houses for the poor.

"I'm really passionate about that," Clark said.

Clark doesn't have any new inventions in the works but is working on several projects in an industrial design class.

"Right now, the project is to redesign the lollipop," Clark said. "If the lollipop idea goes over well, I may contact Wonka."