Inventing must run in the blood in certain families.
Look at the Wright brothers ? Orville and Wilbur’s combined inventiveness got mankind off the ground.
Who knows what the Macocha siblings, of Oxford, could accomplish someday?
Oxford High School freshman Chandler Macocha’s been featured in this newspaper several times with his inventions and the awards they’ve received.
Now his little sister, Sierrah Macocha, 10, is continuing the family tradition.
The fifth-grader at Good Shepherd Lutheran School in Orion invented a device to easily, neatly and accurately measure and dispense liquid medicines, anywhere, anytime.
Dubbed the ‘E-Z Measure? (patent pending), the invention consists of a plastic squeeze bottle with a plastic tube inside. This tube extends up through the bottle into a small plastic measuring cup attached to the bottle top.
The portion of the tube inside the measuring cup is perforated, so when the bottle is squeezed, liquid travels up through the tube, out the small holes at the top and into the cup, where the desired amount can be accurately measured.
The amount of liquid dispensed can be controlled by how much the bottle is squeezed.
A secure cap covering the measuring cup prevents spills. The liquid medicine can be drunk straight from the measuring cup.
Macocha’s invention makes it easy to neatly and accurately dispense liquid medicine anywhere ? in the car, at a restaurant, sick in bed.
The device’s cap, cup and tube effortlessly detach from the squeeze bottle for cleaning and sanitization, ‘so people don’t get germs,? Macocha said.
Macocha said she got the idea for her invention after seeing ‘lots of parents struggling? to measure liquid medicines with ‘spoons and cups.? ‘They would bring it to restaurants and spill it,? she said.
A squeezable soap bottle served as the E-Z Measure’s inspiration, Macocha said.
Macocha entered her invention in the ‘Student Ideas for a Better America? competition ? sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation and administered by the Partnership for America’s Future, Inc. (based in Akron, Ohio) ? and was named the August 2004 winner in the K-8 division. She received a certificate of recognition and $100 check.
Winners in the Student Ideas for a Better America contest are chosen monthly from a pool of entries sent by kids from around the nation in grades K-12. A maximum of one winner per month is selected for each of the two divisions, which are K-8 and grades 9-12.
Her success in this competition has earned Macocha the opportunity to apply for induction in the National Gallery for America’s Young Inventors ? a museum of young American inventors whose ideas hold promise to a positive impact on society. Her brother, Chandler, was a 2004 inductee for his invention of the ‘Wheelchair Backpack Helper.?
Like her older brother, Macocha entered her invention in the Craftsman/National Science Teachers Association Young Inventors Awards Program. She earned a spot as a finalist in the regional competition, but did not place in the top three.
She’s currently in the ‘idea stage? of working on a new invention to enter the Craftsman competition next year, but she won’t say what her idea is.
‘It’s a surprise,? she said with a smile.
Next year, Macocha will begin attending sixth grade at Oxford Middle School, where she hopes to join the science club.
‘I really want to be in the science club because I think that’s really cool,? she said.