While you might use gloves when you leave home these days, a local man's invention could save you the hassle of putting them on.
Aside from gloves, many Vancouverties use their sleeves or elbows to press buttons on elevators or at crosswalks. However, Collis Verdicchio says his new gadget offers far less contact and far more peace of mind.
The "Comate" is a 100% copper multi-functional tool that can be used to open doors hands-free or as a touch-free tip to push buttons or keypads. The tool easily attaches to your keychain, and it also has a convenient bottle opener.
Verdicchio says that the tool is antiviral and antimicrobial, and that it will help to reduce the spread of COVID-19. While the virus may stay on paper or clothing for days, it only lasts a few hours on the tool. Plus, he notes that the point of contact on the Comate is much smaller, which lessens the chance of transmission.
"If you use your jacket to open a door, and then you don't clean it immediately, a virus could sit on it for days," notes Verdicchio.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Verdicchio worked in the film industry with his company called Diversion Zero Waste. His team provided full set demolition services, and would tear down movie sets, and then sort and divert those sets from ending up in a landfill. Since the pandemic, there hasn't been any work in the film industry, which inspired Verdicchio to create the Comate. In addition, he found himself feeling worried every time he had to leave his apartment and he to touch things along the way.
"I don't leave the house without mine now," he says.
Verdicchio says his new product is something most people will have in a year. As such, buying one supports products that have more than a single use, and it is also locally made.
Right now, a single Comate is $29.99, and two are $49.99. A portion of every Comate purchase will be donated to Food Banks Canada and there is free shipping on all Canadian orders.
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