Loving 72-year-old inventor inspired by wife
Liu Dong
An alarm made out of pill bottles, sterilizing cosmetic instrument, lampblack purifying machine are among the contraptions invented by 72-year-old Chen Guomin for his wife. His inventions are practical and energy efficient, and, most importantly, full of love for his family.
An alarm made out of pill bottles, sterilizing cosmetic instrument, lampblack purifying machine are among the contraptions invented by 72-year-old Chen Guomin for his wife. His inventions are practical and energy efficient, and, most importantly, full of love for his family.
Bedside alarm for sick wife
Born in Shanghai in 1945, Chen Guomin was admitted to the Shanghai Railway Institute in 1962, specializing in communications. After graduation in 1966, Chen Guomin left his hometown to work on the Chengdu-Kunming railway construction project. He has been awarded the scientific progress award from the Chinese Academy of Railways and worked as a railway communication engineer at Chengdu Railway Equipment Co up until he retired.
Li Zhiying, who worked in the same unit with Chen, fell in love with him. They got married in 1975 and became a model couple at the factory. "He is a typical good Shanghai man, cultured, never talks loudly, and we never quarrel in 42 years," Li says.
At Li's bedside is a small machine shaped like a bottle. It's an alarm invented by Chen who was worried about his wife's health.
"My wife has a bad heart and has to stay in bed often. We live in two separate rooms, I am worried about her always for fear that she is unable to call for help when feeling uneasy. I made this emergency call machine with pill bottles and circuits, she only needs to press the button when feeling sick and an alarm will ring. We can now rest easy," Chen says.
Chen is very thoughtful and meticulous when it comes to his wife.
"When I want to take a bath, he will prepare bath towel, bath lotion, shampoo, pajamas, slippers in advance for me and adjust the water temperature. He only lets me in when all is ready," Li says.
Mite killer for comfortable night's beauty sleep
"Out of all my inventions, the most technical ones are associated with my wife," Chen says.
On Li's bed lies a buzzing barrel-shaped instrument. This is Chen's new invention and he plans to apply for a patent. "There is no similar product on the market, I call it 'sterilizing cosmetic instrument'."
Chen said that a pillow that has not be cleaned for a long time is a hotbed of mites that damages the sleeper's skin. The device pumps out ozone gas at high voltage that disinfects and sterilizes. Chen uses the instrument once a week to eliminate mites and fine particles on the bed which helps to improve sleep. Chen said this product has a very bright market prospect since the cost is low.
Odor-removing purifier
Chen has applied for a national patent for his oxygen-enriched plasma odor-removing purifier, which was invented also for his wife.
One day when Li had fried fish in the kitchen, she casually complained about the smell: "People downstairs can even smell it and the cooking fume exhauster fails to remove the smell."
Chen then installed various devices and began experimenting. His invention produces a strong electric field capable of removing odor and smoke, above and beyond an ordinary cooking fume exhauster.
This invention not only makes his wife happy, but has attracted the attention of business people, who intend to use it in restaurants.
Contributing to the nation's development
"My inventions were originally aimed to improve the life of my family, yet I do hope I could apply for more national patents in my lifetime and contribute to the country's development."
Chen hoped more eco-friendly enterprises could use his inventions and make his inventions serve more people. He is also willing to give lectures on scientific research and inventions at institutions or schools, sowing the seeds of innovation, so that more people will be more creative in life.
