Nyberg: The Inventors

(WTNH) -- So many things have been invented in the state of Connecticut; the Cotton Gin, the Colt .45 revolver, the can opener, portable typewriter, the submarine, and the Frisbee. All things iconic in one way or another. In this edition of NYBERG, News 8's Ann Nyberg talks to three 21st century inventors who are carrying on the entrepreneurial spirit.

Brian Wittman created the MxV1 golf putter. His inspiration was Newton's Cradle or Newton's Balls, those steel balls hanging from wires that click-clack from one side to the other, demonstrating conservation of momentum and energy.

"What you'll notice about the putter is that the diameter of the radius here on the round face is identical to that of a ball," Wittman explained, "so essentially you're hitting a ball with a ball. So if you do it as instructed you're always going to hit the center of gravity every time, and that's what we look for in golf. We're looking for a true roll. We're looking for accuracy to the hole."

You can learn more at mxvgolf.com and on Twitter at @MXVGolf .

For gardeners and others, Julien Mathieu came up with the Spearhead Spade, what he says is a better way to dig into the ground.

"It wedges and then it slices because it's sharper from tip to tail," Mathieu said. "It's a slicing action versus a chopping action... It's like the equivalent of sticking a steak knife in the ground this way (vertically) or butter knife this way (horizontally)."

The Spearhead Spade is manufactured in Coventry, Connecticut, not too far from Storrs. Check it out at SpearHeadSpade.com

If you're the one shopping for groceries in your family, Jeff Farrell invented something he'd like to see on the front of every shopping cart. It's the EarthHook, and it's a place for shoppers to conveniently carry their reusable shopping bags.

"Just hook 'em on like that, just hang them on the front. Okay, so you motor about in your little cart and they're all in front."

Farrell's site to learn more is EarthHook.com