| The Story is true and Copy Written. As featured in Midwest Scuba Dive Magazine, May 2006 Issue. The MP-1 story may not be copied or distributed without written permission from Johnson-Friedel Industries, Inc. |
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The MP-1 Story The curious story of the Midget P-1 dive light began around four years ago with a stop at the health club for a relaxing swim after a mind bending day on the job. For the future inventor of the MP-1 hands free light, J.D. Johnson, this particular stop would change things forever. John has always been a “water person” and loved any time spent in the water either on his boat or splashing in the pool. That day, on the way out of the health club, he spotted a poster in the lobby “Learn to Scuba Dive”; it seemed to call out to him so he decided to see what this was all about. Upon attending the orientation, the dive instructor explained how diving was a technical sport and was not going to be as easy as bowling. There were physical as well as mental challenges involved which must be mastered. The instructor went on to say that diving is not for everyone, but it is one of the coolest things you will ever do. At that instant, John knew he wanted to learn to scuba dive. The very next weekend, the class was in the water learning the basics. Several months had passed and a few dive training trips to Florida allowed him to receive his Naui advanced certification. His instructor encouraged him to look seriously at enriched air training and they both agreed it was time to move up to NITROX besides, it was a good excuse for another dive trip. One of John’s training dives was at Devil’s Den in Ocala, Florida. The cavern has multiple chambers connected by swim-through passages in the rocks. The dive was great but he found his conventional dive lights frustrating to use, especially while navigating the swim-through passages between caverns. The lights clipped to his BCD seemed clumsy and did not feel natural, holding a light with one hand while using the other hand to grab and pull through the narrow passages. John was struck with an idea for a new and different kind of dive light. By coincidence, John has an extensive mechanical engineering and CAD design background so his wheels were immediately turning. As an engineer, John knew research & development was crucial to any design. On his very next dive he had to fend off the assorted commentary and strange looks as he slid into in the water with his lights “duct taped” to the back of his dive gloves. Once at depth and neutrally buoyant the swim-through passages seemed much easier, especially when using the grab and pull method. Now both hands were free for maneuvering through the cracks in the huge rocks and plenty of light was available wherever his hands went. No one could have guessed the series of events that would be set into motion from this unorthodox test and how two average guys from Chicago would go on to invent a new way for divers to use hands free lights. John knew he had a great idea but he needed to run this past his long time friend and now business partner, Dan Friedel. Being an electronics and electro-mechanical technology whiz, he would be the guy to talk to in order to make his dive light idea work. Dan almost instantly had some ideas for the light project but he needed to have some first-hand knowledge of the conditions and pressures to which the light would be exposed. That would mean dive training for him as well, the next day Dan signed up for classes. Finally, John and Dan both had an understanding of the conditions their light would have to endure. The next step was to file for a patent and produce a product worthy of the concept. Several prototypes were made and tested on multiple dive trips. The two inventors gained valuable diving experience while testing their invention in real open water dives. During the course of the following year they went diving whenever they could. John had the opportunity to do quite a bit more diving than Dan which gave him the opportunity to test the light in a broad range of different environments. By this time John had achieved his Master Diver certification and an extended range dive certification, of course, all while using his lights. The Midget P-1 hands free light has been dive tested at many Florida dive locations such as Devils Den, Rainbow River, King Springs, Blue Grotto, Crystal Cavern, 40 Fathom Grotto, and several Atlantic Ocean dives. It has also ventured into Haigh Quarry in Kankakee IL, and Bonne Terre Mine in Missouri. Many design changes to the invention have occurred along the way. The main concerns were water pressure activating the power switch and the drag coefficient of the unit itself in the water. There is no doubt that the MP-1 hands free dive light is comfortable, easy to use, functional, attractive, and ready when you need it. The MP-1 is completely sealed, rechargeable, can not flood, and able to ignore pressures to 300 feet and beyond. The inventors also wanted to minimize any worry of replacing the batteries while providing for a full day of diving. Knowing that high intensity LEDs would be completely impervious to depths of 600 feet or more, Dan and John decided to use ten of them as the light source. They did away with the battery replacement issue by using a Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery which has no recharge memory, meaning that it will charge back to 100% power potential from any percentage of loss. Also, the charging system is simple, rugged, light weight, and can easily be packed away with the rest of your dive gear. The final result is a long lasting, versatile dive light that is useful as a main light source or as a great backup light that can be relied upon for years to come. John and Dan were fortunate enough throughout their undertaking to meet some really outstanding people in the dive community. They would like to thank: American Pro Dive Center in Crystal River, Florida, Tina Haigh of Haigh Quarry in Kankakee, Illinois, Hal Watts at 40 Fathom Grotto in Ocala, Florida, and the friendly staff at Bonne Terre Mine, Bonne Terre, MO (40 minutes South of St. Louis). Thank You All, And may your every dive be safe, fulfilling, and bright: John and Dan at: Johnson-Friedel Industries, Inc. |
