As the firm continues to celebrate the Inventorship that drives innovation, we shine our spotlight on Air Toobz, created by inventor and entrepreneur Brad Owen.

The toy, created in Brad’s garage during the early days of the pandemic, was inspired by his own children’s love of (and longing for) an installation at the Cleveland Children’s Museum. Like many kids, Brad’s children would spend hours entertaining themselves at the Museum's Air Maze installation, propelling scarves through pneumatic tubes, and low-key learning principles of physics they may not be able to pronounce.

Attempting to recreate that experience at home, Brad used parts of an old hamster cage and an old vacuum cleaner’s fan and began to experiment with air. He soon learned that what seemed like the simplest idea can often be the toughest to bring to life. After experimenting with velocity and pressure for several months, Brad brought on several local engineers to help build a final working prototype.    

The toy encourages children (and adults) to utilize the flow of air to push foam balls through the tube maze of their own creation. Both straight and looped configurations provide the opportunity to engage in predicting outcomes and developing problem-solving skills while learning valuable STEM principles.

It was important to Brad to avoid overstimulation, so that the toy reflects the simplicity and open-ended nature of play. Air Toobz doesn’t include screens, flashing lights, and noisy whistles and bells, but that doesn’t prevent kids from spending hours occupied, entertained, and subtly learning the principles of aerodynamics through open-ended play. This is in keeping with the idea that introducing science doesn’t have to be boring, and can be more effective if you don’t know you are being “taught”. Its educational properties have gained notice as the toy has begun appearing in the classrooms for both young and older students.

Brad’s background is in software development, but as an entrepreneur, he is used to working within multiple industries. This invention has brought him recognition from around the globe. Air Toobz has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America and he continues to rack up awards for his invention, including UK Toy Inventor of The Year, and the ASTRA Play Award, with multiple nominations for Toy of The Year.

As for what comes next for Air Toobz, Brad is politely tight-lipped, but expansion is in the works. He wants to keep exploring creative and engineering boundaries. While toy maker is his exciting job title, Brad continues to develop software-related ideas, including within the realm of AI Data, but hopes that his success serves as a reminder to others not to stay in a silo, but to work on things outside their wheelhouse.