Drop Stop

{{Short description|Interior car accessory}} [[File:Drop Stop logo.jpg|right|alt=Drop Stop logo|250px]] '''Drop Stop''' is a [[patent]]ed<ref>{{cite web|title=APPARATUS FOR CLOSING GAPS|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20080283565|website=[[USPTO]]|access-date=7 November 2012|date=4 March 2009}}</ref> device designed to prevent items from falling between a [[car seat|car's front seats]] and [[center console (automobile)|center console]]. It was invented by Marc Newburger and Jeffrey Simon of [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="cbs2">{{cite news|url=https://abc7.com/archive/7179292/|title=Inventors Have Solution To Vehicles' Black Holes|date=3 December 2009 |work=KABC|publisher=CBS Broadcasting Inc.|access-date=22 December 2009|location=Los Angeles}}</ref>

Drop Stop is constructed out of black [[Neoprene]]<ref name=globeandmail>{{cite news|last=Kritsonis|first=Ted|title=How to prevent your stuff from slipping through the car's cracks|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-life/gizmos/how-to-prevent-your-stuff-from-slipping-through-the-cars-cracks/article2361579/|accessdate=10 March 2012|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=7 March 2012}}</ref> filled with [[polyester]] fiberfill<ref name="markley">{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/159/story/1002992.html|title=Drop Stop Prevents Items From Falling Under Your Seat|last=Markley|first=Stephen|date=16 April 2009|work=[[The Miami Herald]]|accessdate=11 February 2010|location=Miami|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924123322/http://www.miamiherald.com/2009/04/16/1002992/drop-stop-prevents-items-from.html|archivedate=24 September 2012}} [http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2009/04/drop-stop-prevents-items-from-falling-under-your-seat.htm Alt URL]{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and is about 17 inches long.<ref name=autotrends>{{cite news|last=Keegan|first=Matt|title=Product Review: Drop Stop|url=http://www.autotrends.org/2011/10/24/product-review-drop-stop/|accessdate=5 January 2012|newspaper=Auto Trends|date=24 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104145131/http://www.autotrends.org/2011/10/24/product-review-drop-stop/|archive-date=4 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> It has a slot sewn into it where the [[seat belt]] latch can fit through. This anchors the device, allowing the car seat to slide back-and-forth freely.<ref name=huffpost>{{cite news|last=Braun Davison|first=Candace|title=Car Organization Tips: How To Declutter Your Car|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/22/car-organization-declutter-car_n_3784803.html?ref=topbar|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=22 August 2013|quote=This neoprene wedge has a slot that fits around the seatbelt buckle, and it moves with the seat, so it won't become the gap's newest victim if you need to move forward a few inches.}}</ref> According to Newburger and Simon, the space between the center console and the front seats is always in dark shadow and thus the black color of Drop Stop matches any car's interior.<ref name="romero">{{cite news|url=https://abc7.com/archive/7179292/|title=Invention blocks drops into console crevice|last=Romero|first=Ric|date=18 December 2009|work=KABC|publisher=ABC Inc.|access-date=22 December 2009|location=Los Angeles|authorlink=Ric Romero}}</ref> Provided the gap between a car's center console and seat is no less than 3.5 inches, Drop Stop should fit.<ref name=autotrends /> However, some cars, for example the [[BMW M3]] and [[Volkswagen Jetta]], do not have enough space in the gap to fit the Drop Stop in place.<ref name="caranddriver">{{cite news|url=http://www.caranddriver.com/features/09q3/automotive_accessories_how_to_keep_your_car_nicer_longer-gear_box|title=Automotive Accessories: How to Keep Your Car Nicer Longer - Gear Box|date=September 2009|work=[[Car and Driver]]|accessdate=22 December 2009}}</ref>

==History== The idea was born after Marc Newburger dropped a mobile phone down the gap between the seats of his car while driving and almost caused a serious accident trying to retrieve it.<ref name="about">{{cite web|url=http://mustangs.about.com/od/accessories/a/dropstop-profile.htm|title=The Original Drop Stop Car Wedge|last=Lamas|first=Jonathan|website=[[About.com]]|accessdate=22 December 2009|archive-date=15 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115193103/http://mustangs.about.com/od/accessories/a/dropstop-profile.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="homeandaway">{{cite news|url=http://www.homeandawaymagazine.com/content.cfm?n=758|title=Car Accessory Aim to Reduce Crashes|date=August 2009|publisher=[[American Automobile Association|AAA]]|work=Home and Away|accessdate=11 February 2010|archive-date=12 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712214451/http://www.homeandawaymagazine.com/content.cfm?n=758|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="wells">{{cite news|last1=Wells|first1=Jane|title=How two friends turned a near-death experience into a 'Shark Tank'-backed $24 million business|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/20/how-2-friends-turned-shark-tank-backed-drop-stop-into-a-24m-business.html|accessdate=2 January 2018|work=Strange Success|publisher=CNBC|date=20 December 2017}}</ref> As of December 2017, 2.4 million Drop Stops have been sold with revenues totaling $24 million.<ref name="wells"/>

Drop Stop was featured on a segment of ''[[The Marilyn Denis Show]]'' entitled "The Best [[As seen on TV (marketing)|As Seen on TV]] Products",<ref>{{cite news|last=Khachi|first=Ramsin|title=The Best "As Seen on TV Products"|url=http://www.marilyn.ca/AtHome/segments.aspx/Daily/January2012/01_30_2012/AsSeenOnTV|work=[[The Marilyn Denis Show]]|accessdate=17 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211195426/http://www.marilyn.ca/AtHome/segments.aspx/Daily/January2012/01_30_2012/AsSeenOnTV|archive-date=11 February 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[The View (U.S. TV series)|The View]]'',<ref>{{cite news|title=9 Most Successful Shark Tank Businesses|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/gobankingrates/9-most-successful-shark-t_b_6708126.html|accessdate=12 June 2017|work=The Huffington Post|date=18 Feb 2015|ref=huffpo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The View| website=[[YouTube]] | date=26 February 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAURtwGRooM&t=68s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/rAURtwGRooM |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|accessdate=12 June 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and ''[[Shark Tank]]''. On a special ''Shark Tank'' episode, which aired March 29, 2013, [[Lori Greiner]] introduced the product alongside the inventors,<ref>{{cite web|title=Products With the Sharks|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WAJ_ZscTqE&#t=02m14s|publisher=[[YouTube]]|accessdate=20 March 2013|date=22 February 2013|website=Shark Tank}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> Newburger and Simon, who made a deal with Greiner for 20% equity in Drop Stop for $300,000.<ref name=sharktank>{{cite web|title=Episode 419|url=http://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank/episode-detail/episode-419/1081721|work=[[Shark Tank]]|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|accessdate=4 April 2013|date=29 March 2013 }}</ref> On a follow-up episode of ''Shark Tank'', which aired on November 22, 2013, Drop Stop announced a $2,000,000 purchase order with [[Walmart]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Baumgarten|first=Carolyn|title=Recap of Shark Tank Season 5, Episode 10|url=http://inthesharktank.com/2013/11/recap-shark-tank-season-5-episode-10/|accessdate=6 December 2013|newspaper=In The Shark Tank|date=25 November 2013}}</ref> On March 19, 2014, Newburger and Simon were featured with their invention on ''[[The Queen Latifah Show]]'' wherein they were referred to as "some of Lori’s most successful inventors."<ref name=latifah>{{cite news|title=''Shark Tank'' Success Stories|url=http://queenlatifah.com/lifestyle/home/shark-tank-success-stories/|work=[[The Queen Latifah Show]]|accessdate=19 March 2014|quote=''Shark Tank''‘s Lori Greiner and Queen Latifah caught up with some of Lori’s most successful inventors — the creators of “Drop Stop” Jeffrey Simon and Marc Newburger, and the creator of “CordaRoys” Byron Young.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320012855/http://queenlatifah.com/lifestyle/home/shark-tank-success-stories/|archive-date=20 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> On a second follow-up episode of ''Shark Tank'', which aired on December 5, 2014, it was announced that Drop Stop was now available for sale in [[Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.|Bed Bath & Beyond]], in a "Lori Greiner Shark Tank" branded display.<ref>{{cite news|last=Baumgarten|first=Carolyn|title=Recap of ''Shark Tan''k Season 6, Episode 11|url=http://inthesharktank.com/2014/12/recap-shark-tank-season-6-episode-11/|accessdate=29 December 2014|newspaper=In The Shark Tank|date=14 December 2014}}</ref> In February 2015, Drop Stop was named one of the nine most successful ''Shark Tank'' businesses.<ref name=huffpo>{{cite news|last1=Quinn|first1=Morgan|title=9 Most Successful Shark Tank Businesses|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/gobankingrates/9-most-successful-shark-t_b_6708126.html|accessdate=19 February 2015|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=18 February 2015}}</ref> On a follow-up episode of ''Shark Tank'', which aired on January 21, 2018, it was revealed that the [[Los Angeles Police Department]] had performed a three-month long test during which time zero traffic-related accidents had occurred in police vehicles equipped with Drop Stop. As a result, the police department announced they would be outfitting 3,000 police vehicles with Drop Stops.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shark Tank (S9 • E19 Episode 19)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTHMwC2OnKQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/sTHMwC2OnKQ |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|accessdate=12 March 2018|date=21 January 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.buydropstop.com/}}

[[Category:American inventions]] [[Category:Vehicle safety technologies]] [[Category:Automotive accessories]] [[Category:Automotive safety]] [[Category:Shark Tank]]