Laziness comes in handy for Land O’ Lakes teenager
By Kyle LoJacono
Staff Writer
LAND O’ LAKES — At just 16-years-old, Hunter Morera already has his first patent pending invention, and he can thank it all to unusual inspiration.
“I have to say I’m lazy,” Morera said. “So to try and do as little work as possible I try and think of ways to make things easier.”
Morera, who lives on the Pasco County side of Lutz and goes to Sunlake High, won a national invention search last November. Morera was one of six people who earned a spot on season two of the Discovery Channel show “Pitchmen.” He will appear with his invention, the “Select-A-Wrench.”
Morera came up with his invention while trying to save time looking for tools. He and his father, Eddie, were using a tree trimmer when they realized it had some loose bolts. After several unsuccessful trips for the right wrench, Morera had a brainstorm.
“I said this is just stupid,” Morera said. “There has to be an easier way to find the right tool than to run back and forth.”
The Select-A-Wrench is an open-ended tool with multiple wrenches that fold down to fit in the palm of someone’s hand like a pocketknife.
Morera and his invention were featured at the Museum of Science and Industry’s Kid’s Invention Day Jan. 17. The young inventor has volunteered at various MOSI stations each Saturday for the last two years.
“We decided to have the day because Hunter has volunteered here for years and we wanted to honor him on National Kid Inventor Day while teaching other children more about science and invention,” said Cathy Crowder, MOSI spokesperson. “He could be what inspires hundreds of other inventions by kids.
Morera easily impressed Crowder.
“I’ve met Hunter a few times and everyone here loves him,” she said. “He is always on time when he’s volunteering and he’s a great ambassador for MOSI.”
There was more than just the usual MOSI crowd in attendance to see Morera. Anthony Sullivan and Sullivan Productions were also there filming for season two of “Pitchmen.”
Morera said of the film crew coming to the event, “When they said there’d be cameras, I was like ‘I don’t like cameras. No cameras please.’ But it wasn’t really that bad.”
On Jan. 16, Sullivan Productions also allowed other young inventors to bring their own inventions and best sales pitches. This children “pitch-a-thon” may be used during season two of the show.
“It’s great because it’s giving kids a chance to show their ingenuity,” said Sarah Burns, assistant producer for “Pitchmen.”
Morera is the youngest person ever on the show. A 17-year-old named Kyle from California was on the first season.
“Kyle from season one e-mailed me when he learned I’d be on the show,” Morera said. “He told me he was glad they picked another kid to be on the show.”
One-on-one filming with Morera for the show has not started yet and not even the local star knows when it will.
“I’ve learned that working with a film company is really crazy and all over the place,” Morera said. “One day they call you like 10 times and then I you don’t hear from them for weeks. I say that everything is always ‘hurry up and wait’ because things have to always be fast even though nothing is really planned.”
Thing might be crazy with filming, but Morera is still coming up with ideas in the interim.
“I was thinking I might want to do something with Q-tips because I can never grab just one,” Morera said. “I thought of trying to do something with a Q-tip dispenser a few days after the competition because I always grab like 20.”
Morera said someone at the competition last November had an invention involving Q-tips.
“Maybe it is something I can work on over the summer,” Morera said. “Maybe I can get on season three (of “Pitchmen”) with this one. I don’t know if there is going to be a third season, but that would be really cool.”
