On the endlessly rainy West Coast, this could be the answer for soccer parents and pedestrians everywhere B次元官网网址� a drink holder that attaches to an umbrella.

The idea is simple and practical, but remained un-invented until a Saanich mom started taking her six-year-old son to weekend soccer games. With coffee and umbrella in hand, and as a busy real estate agent, she found answering her cellphone was a pain.

B次元官网网址淧arents standing on the sidelines all have coffee,B次元官网网址� said Kerry Couvelier, 34. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e juggling your umbrella when the phone rings, or youB次元官网网址檙e holding your dog, and you have to put your coffee in the wet grass.B次元官网网址�

There had to be a better way. A first-time inventor, Couvelier came up with the idea of attaching an insulated drink sleeve to an umbrella using velcro and non-skid rubber.

Her mom dutifully sewed the many prototypes, and through trial and error, and plenty of walking around the house with drinks in fabric sleeves attached to open umbrellas, Joey on the Go was born.

She gathered a group of women to test it out and provide feedback, and consulted with a marketing company to see if it was an idea worth pursuing. All signs pointed to go. She found a manufacturer out of the U.S. and has applied for a patent on the product. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a wild ride,B次元官网网址� she said.

The concept began about a year ago as a bit of a joke with her husband Graham Gilbert, who found it was a product whose time had come.

B次元官网网址淚 thought it was a novel idea, but thought where would it go? Who would need it? Sure enough everyone we talked to,B次元官网网址� Gilbert said.

B次元官网网址淓very time IB次元官网网址檓 at the field, people look and ask where I got that,B次元官网网址� Couvelier said. B次元官网网址淚f you are going to be standing out there, youB次元官网网址檝e got to hold your coffee.B次元官网网址�

Couvelier and Gilbert presented the idea to the DragonsB次元官网网址� Den investors in Toronto three months ago, and the episode airs on Sunday, Jan. 20. B次元官网网址淚t was a once in a lifetime experience. ItB次元官网网址檚 as crazy as it seems on TV,B次元官网网址� Couvelier said. B次元官网网址淭hey are a good group of people. It was fun.B次元官网网址�

She canB次元官网网址檛 say if the Dragons gave her a deal, but Arlene Dickinson and Kevin OB次元官网网址橪eary gave the sleeve a test run during taping. B次元官网网址淏ruce (Croxon) could relate. He has kids that play sports,B次元官网网址� she said.

A real test of the product starts Monday, when she launches her website . The plan is to market not only at parents who attend their kidsB次元官网网址� outdoor sports, but to transit commuters in hubs such as Vancouver and Toronto, and consistently rainy places, such as the U.K.

B次元官网网址淟arger cities like Toronto have a lot more commuters (than Victoria). We are definitely trying to hit the commuter market,B次元官网网址� Couvelier said.

DragonsB次元官网网址� Den airs Sundays at 8 p.m. CBC television.

editor@saanichnews.com