Inventor touts children`s tools

John Herndon shows off his invention, “Learn to Tie Your Shoes With the E-Z Bunny Kit,” which is featured in stores in Matthews and Charlotte. Amy Wadsworth / LTN Photo

When John Herndon does his mail route in Charlotte, his mind is constantly thinking of new inventions.
“When walking I see things that come to my mind, and when I sleep I get answers in my dream,” Herndon said. “It’s a busy day for me.”
While watching children he has seen those who struggle to tie their shoes.
“They have to learn to tie them eventually,” Herndon said. “So I thought of a way to fix it and help them tie their shoes.”
The Lincolnton native thought of an invention called, “Learn to Tie Your Shoes with the E-Z Bunny Kit.”
The invention includes a bunny rabbit painted on to a piece of wood with shoelaces attached to it.
He is hoping to try and get the product into nursery schools to help make shoe tying easier.
“I have learned that once a child can tie their shoes they have a lot more confidence and self-esteem,” Herndon said.
There is a story that is included in his explanations on how to tie the shoelace.
“I tell the children that the rabbit lost his ears,” he said.
The children take the shoestrings and match the colored dots with velcro pieces that are on the wood piece. Once completed, the rabbit has ears that are made of shoestrings and the children have learned to tie their shoes.
The invention is targeted for five- to six-year-olds. It is already in a shop in Matthews called Linda’s Children Shop and Tots Twice & More in Charlotte.
He is hoping to make other patterns on the wood besides a bunny such as a shoe. He’s hoping a shoe company who would decide to pick it up.
Herndon has also invented a handled bike with training wheels that can be turned up.
“That way when the children are learning to ride a bike the adult can push up the training wheels without the child even knowing,” he said.
All three of Herndon’s children have learned to ride on a bike like this and it was deemed successful.
Herndon has several other inventions such as a new food wrap and exercise machine that he is working on.
Details will be released later on these inventions, once it is complete.
For more information on the E-Z Bunny Kit visit www.eztiebunny.com or email Herndon at Ez3k@aol.com.

John Herndon’s shows off his “Bike Buddy” invention which involves pushing the training wheels up and down to help children learn to ride a bike. Amy Wadsworth / LTN Photoby Amy Wadsworth