Hi Mia, yes I am affiliated with the product, someone sent me a message that lead me to the thread. Maybe some of you are not familiar with how kickstarter works, it's basically a platform to introduce an idea or concept, although that seems to be changing with bigger companies now using it for promotion, and funders then provide their input to development ideas before the actual product is produced. We are traditional kickstarter users, we make our living in patents and marketing, and have an idea that has been well received in consumer tests and surveys and want to see the level of interest that is out there.

We are using kickstarter as a funding platform (if the campaign is not successful we might produce it on our own as we do have an expression of interest from an airport retailer), but also for feedback, so comments here are great, even though they tend to be negative to the idea. We realize this is not for someone who has access to the executive lounge at the airport, but rather the typical guy who finds himself waiting at the gate forever because of early check-ins and flight delays... basically like the three of us.

It is only a prototype, in our literature we explain that it is 30% thicker than the actual product will be and this is because 3D plastic is not very sturdy and anything thinner than this would not support the ratchet. We are open to all ideas and suggestions, there is room to store more batteries probably, good idea, we hadn't considered that, and in early planning a built in battery was discussed. The concern was that a built in battery would be worn out before the rest of the unit, so it would be better to have access to fresh batteries, disposable or chargeable.

It is not large either, only 22cm by 20cm, not much thicker than a battery and we checked the largest suitcase retailer in western Canada and it comfortably fits in the front pocket of virtually every carry-on bag that has that front pocket... which normally sits empty otherwise. Weight would be about 10 ounces.

As for power, yes we have worked with circuitry people and we are told that three AA batteries will do the job but we will not build the thing in mass production until we have exact answers on all things, so again please realize that it is a patent pending idea that is open to modification, we are just getting started, the final product will likely be different in many ways.

There's 3 billion flights annually in the world, a lot of people waiting at gates, more than 10% use carry-on (300 million), we have the patent, and think some of those people will be happy to pull out a little table to generate some private space, hold their stuff and charge their phone. Time will tell!