Popular DJ meets plastics; next stop for his "Cell Buckle" is American Chopper
By Clare Goldsberry
Published: October 14th, 2011
Published: October 14th, 2011
Great ideas come in surprising ways. In fact, Bobby Musselman, inventor of the Cell Buckle, never thought about inventing anything until a long road trip in August of 2010 to Sturgis, South Dakota, to the big annual motorcycle rally there, created a need: a hands-off way to use his cell phone while he was riding.
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On Monday The Cell Buckle's first big marketing campaign kicks off on the Discovery Channel's American Chopper, where it will make its debut. It also marks the first anniversary of his idea. "A year ago this was just a thought in my head," Musselman explains. "I made up a prototype, showed it to some friends and 10 out of 10 said they liked it and would buy it."
In December of last year, he hooked up with plastic part designer Richard Dennis of Plastic Design Resources, who helped him refine the design and determine the right materials. After several iterations in design, Musselman found the right designs - one for a motorcycle handle and another for the steering wheel of a passenger car, truck or other 4-wheeled passenger vehicle.
"The most difficult part was just getting the right materials, but we decided on acetal for the clip and the slide that allows you to adjust the Cell Buckle to fit the type of device you need to hold," he said. "The acetal is strong yet it is flexible to allow the clip to go over the steering wheel or the handlebars easily. That is overmolded with an elastomer from Kraton - we use a 25 durometer on the top of the Cell Buckle and a 20 durometer on the bottom of the Cell Buckle."
The Cell Buckle's adjustability allows it to hold any device up to 2.9" wide, including iPhones, GPS units, MP3 players and the Play Station Portable. The motorcycle model clips around handle bars from 7/8" to 1" diameter. The larger one for vehicle steering wheels fits onto steering wheels sized 1¼" to 1½" diameter. The devices also fit on stroller handles, golf carts, grocery shopping carts, and even clips onto the tray tables on airplanes, as he discovered when he made a trip recently to China to visit his moldmaker and molder.
While he regrets having to go to China for the manufacturing, a friend has experience dealing with manufacturers there for toy products for big name toy makers, so his comfort level was pretty high, he explains, adding that he's not too worried about intellectual property theft. "Once my product is out there in the stores, whether it's made here or made in China, I've opened the door for knockoffs. Anyone can rip you off," Musselman states.
Musselman's previous career as a big-name DJ in Phoenix, where he played the game-day music at Diamondbacks' home games and other large venues, didn't really prepare him for being an inventor, manufacturer, distributor and marketer. But now he's winding down his DJ career to become a full-time product promoter. "We're doing well so far and we've not even advertised it yet," he says. "The web site is now live (www.thecellbuckle.com) and Monday night's American Chopper debut should result in some big orders."
He's also certain that the Cell Buckle will stay put on a motorcycle handle. "I tried it out with the windshield in place at 95 mph, and it worked fine. Then I tried it without the windshield at 105 mph and it stayed perfectly in place - I've still got my iPhone," he boasts, grinning and holding up his red iPhone.
Musselman anticipates that sales will be strong and that he will soon have to get additional molds made to manufacture in the U.S. The Cell Buckle sells for $19.95 and can be purchased on the company's web site.
The cell buckle is indeed a
The cell buckle is indeed a good discovery, finally something we won't throw away so easily at the mesa junk removal dumpsters. Using acetal seems so simple, now that it has been thought of, yet it's so efficient. Great job, sir!
Everything that's been
Everything that's been invented was and is supposed to serve a purpose, to substitute a missing something. Even today I wish I had the idea to get the best out of the used diesel generators. I'm sure I would have been another woman today, if this were the case.
I think that's not the skills
I think that's not the skills in there. So they usually buying the products only.
7 Inch Tablet PC
They have a standarization
They have a standarization for the materials. So they can't using a worse one for making it.
maryland seo
You had some nice points
You had some nice points here. I done a research on the topic and got most peoples will agree with you fishing games
We should limit our plastic
We should limit our plastic usage. It helps to prevent the global warming a lot.
flowers St Petersburg
The products will be softer
The products will be softer if you made it from foams. But there are already any standards for the product.
Free online games
They have to using the better
They have to using the better quality of material for different stuff. They have to counting on the usage of the users too.
handyortung ohne zustimmung
If it sounds like shit it
If it sounds like shit it probally is shit
It's more elastic if using
It's more elastic if using the plastic materials. But it weaker than using the steel one.
PS3 accessories
CELLBUCKLE=JUNK POMPOUS IDIOT
CELLBUCKLE=JUNK POMPOUS IDIOT THAT SPOKE BAD ABOUT PAUL JR ON NATIONAL TV
HE DIDN'T WANT TO BUILD A BIKE FOR A PIECE OF SH*T PRODUCT MADE IN CHINA AND ILLEGAL TO ATTACH TO STEERING WHEEL OF CARS
One of the stupidest piece of
One of the stupidest piece of crap items on the market. China made junk for $20 when it probably cost 2 cents to make if that. BUY AMERICAN PRODUCTS PEOPLE STAY AWAY FROM IMPORTS FROM CHINA
Thank you a lot for providing
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Waterbed
china is the largest hub of
china is the largest hub of trading import and export and if you hear about canton fair china import and export fair is a prove that china is number one country of trading goods.
Great product I love my
Great product I love my Cellbuckle! Bobby has a fantastic product ad hopes he sells one to ever person in the world that owns an mp3 player or cell phone. Works on just about everything and so easy to use! How can you go wrong having a place to put your phone when before it ended up on the floor of the car, in the cup holders getting drinks spilled on it, scratched, you name it. Cellbuckle works flawlessly and helps protect your phone a long with ease of operation. No more lost phone driving for me! Cellbuckle it up people!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDHMM1PQo6w&feature=youtube_gdata_player
You all are funny.... Give the man credit for getting off the couch.
This product is junk. First
This product is junk. First of all, thinking that you can use your cell phone on a bike 2ft from your head, traveling at 60mph is a joke. The wind noise alone, not to mention the vibration, makes it impossible. I can hear it "Oops, did my phone fall out of the cell buckle cradle"?
Also, the point made by another person about it being illegal is correct. You cannot attach anything to your steering wheel. As far as using it on a grocery cart? That's all we need is more annoiance by loud mouthed cell users in the stores.
Their decision to go to China
Their decision to go to China is just plain bullS***. There a a ton of businesses that could design, build, & run plastic products. I know that for a fact since I have a patented product that fits Harleys that is Proudly Made In America. From what I saw of the motorcycle mount, go on a real ride (no bar hooping) and I have concerns we would be having to stop and pick up the broken pieces of you smart phone. From what has been written, it hasn't had much pilot tests on motorcycles. I have helped a number of people take ideas to products. I always remind people, anything can be make-able, but is it marketable AND actually usable. Sounds like the guy has Marketing down pat, now will the product go the test of time & usefulness, that is the question.
I have been in the US molding
I have been in the US molding and product design for over 45 years.
Most US molding company and mold builders will not even talk to small start up company with new products. If your are not automotive or medical with big dollars they just blow you off.
How many small start up companies have you worked with or are working with now.
I also hope you don't own a iPod,iPhone or iPad. Also how many GE products do you own?
Also don't forget all the solar panels built in China.
Would you like to quote the new US tooling?
I have been in the US molding
I have been in the US molding and product design for over 45 years.
Most US molding company and mold builders will not even talk to small start up company with new products. If your are not automotive or medical with big dollars they just blow you off.
How many small start up companies have you worked with or are working with now.
I also hope you don't own a iPod,iPhone or iPad. Also how many GE products do you own?
Also don't forget all the solar panels built in China.
Would you like to quote the new US tooling?
Dougspair says....I guess
Dougspair says....I guess this dude didn't bother asking me...or my brother...if we liked it...neither of us likes it...and we don't use cell phones either...and wouldn't like it even if we had cell phones for free...
Being in the US injection
Being in the US injection molding business, Musselman's decision to go with a Chinese mold and production is just another dose of bad news. Of course it is part of the much larger trend that plays such a dominent role in the decline of US manufacturing across the board. We have a glimmer of hope that things may be turning around and I certainly hope it's true. In the meantime, the myopic and even greedy view of people like Musselman continues to decimate the domestic job market. Ask yourself, if no one has a job, who will be left to purchase overpriced junk like this? If his final comment about building a second mold for US production is intended to make me feel better, I'm not buying it and it didn't work.
Please list all the states
Please list all the states laws bills that outlaw steering wheel attached to wheels.
All 50 state please.
What other products made in
What other products made in China would like to boycott,
May be iPods ,iPhones ,iPads GE products yhe list is too long you choose.
Wow such negative comments!
Wow such negative comments! If you don't like the product just don't buy it. At least give the guy credit for coming up with something. What have you done lately to help the US economy or job market?
This really looks and sounds
This really looks and sounds like it is a good plan. I hope that it is able to be completed and that there will be people who will have the means to afford it. A community with a small town flare is always very nice.
Studying the online casino games before you begin playing is important so that you don’t make mistakes with your wagering.
I hope people boycott this
I hope people boycott this pos being manufactured in China. I watched American Chopper and seen him on there. Seems like a tool. He called Paul Jr. greedy but he is choosing to manufacture in China to attempt to save a few $$ when he could employ Americans by manufacturing here. Sounds more greedy than Paul Jr.
First: It is illegal in all
First: It is illegal in all 50 states to have this device attached to your car stearing wheel. I hope they get sued and lose everything. This product should be sold for $1.99 max. Junk product gets cheap bike from OCC.
Comments 1 & 2 pretty much
Comments 1 & 2 pretty much nail it. Cycle riding represents freedom & cell phones are a shock collar at best. What would Peter Fonda do?
...China....poor
...China....poor quality.....human rights abuses....rampant pollution...jobs we could have here....and I suppose this dude rides a Harley Too....
...Well...here in
...Well...here in California...the 'no-hands' law hasn't been effective.....people just try to hide the ever-present phone..
And as a motorcycle rider for 50 years, the biggest part of riding a motorcycle...for most people anyway...is to get away from the annoyance of being 'connected'....
Oh! This a great idea! With
Oh! This a great idea! With States and Govt. passing legislation to try to curb driving distraction, some idiot now is going to sell something to more enable the rest of the idiots out there.
Then you are saying parts
Then you are saying parts just jump out of presses and overmold, pad print, assemble and package them shelf in mid air without any labor.
Richard Dennis
I hope China sells a billion
I hope China sells a billion of them.
I don't understand The China
I don't understand The China angle since there is no labor to the product.
plus with duty and shipping, it really could have been made here in the USA. but than again one goes with what one knows...