Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Luc on December 05, 2009, 01:13:02 am
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hi everyone,
anyone out there know what going on with the green glide situation, I just recieved one after waiting for two months and hydramaster have said that that will be the last, it would appear some thing has happened to the company who were producing green glides
Luc
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There's been a long ongoing dispute between the Green Glide maker and Harris Industries over claims of copying patterns.
It was eventually won by Harris and the Green Glide manufacturing ceased
The guy who made them was on forums over the past three years and had a lot of fans as he was very personable, but, if he was using someone else's patterns he was a crook.
Because he was up against a large organisation he had a fair bit of support, but should you be supporting a cheat, just because he's charming?
I've forgotten his name, but he's still involved in TM's and the Glide business was " sold " to his wife last year.
As many like the product there's clearly an opportunity here for someone to take up!!!
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Bit strong Rob Jeff Lydon ( Greenie ) a crook ???? Has he been charged with anything yet, I for one found him very helpfull and honest in the dealing i had with him
Regards Tony
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From what I can glean from the American boards he is not flavour of the month over there.
He was up in court against Harris Industries the owners of Chem Dry. They say they have the patent on Teflon glides and were taken legal action against Greenie.
I believe the judge suspended the case but applied an injunction on Greenie not to manufacture or sell glides until the matter was finally decided. He broke this injunction and carried on regardless. He is now in breach of the injunction and is facing a heavy penalty.
A lot of small carpet cleaning companies backed Greenie financially and they are really ped off at how he has conducted himself. Looks like they aren't going to get a return for their financial backing which would have been continued use and purchase of Green Glides.
By the way this injunction applied to anyone selling the glides, even companies over here hence their unavailability.
There are new products coming out which circumvent the Harris patent such as Stainless Steel Lips and I think you will find in the future wands with glides as an integral part of the structure rather than an accessory.
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Didn't I read here that Shaun was the first person in this country to use a glide? ;D ;D ;D
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Are you sure about that Roger?
Think Shaun ought to confirm it. ;D
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John you are correct in what you have said. Jeff was supposed to be in court on various occasions but failed to attend. Lisa however his ex partner did turn up to the last hearing. I believe that now there is a warrant out for Jeff. He has made things alot worse for himself. and yes he has lost the backing of alot of people due to the way he has conducted himself. HRI have taken other companies to court due to the Patents of glides & these companies have lost.
There are other companies that you can get wand glides from. Have a look at this US based company. They have some great deals on. At the moment they are selling 2 jet wands with a glide for $149 plus $100 delivery to the UK. This works out i believe to about £150 delivered to you. You pay pretty much £150 for a glide alone in this country delivered so this is a bargain.
www.morecfm.com
Richie.
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Richie
Would you have to buy jet extenders seperately for the wand/glide combo ?
Steve
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I think we should have a little sympathy for Greenie, Ok he's not handled himself well lately but look at what he's gone through, divorced, moved to a different state, and has a lawsuit against him from a multinational company.
he's not got an easy life at the moment.
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What was so special about the glides he was presumably infringing?
and if he cant do them, why are others making glides - like the link Richie posted.
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Joe,
I'm no legal expert, but from what I understand it is not Greenies design, it is just the fact that it is a seperate teflon glide, and I guess Harris owns the rights in the US for all "add-on teflon gluides" this seems too general to me........but some huge companies that were making their own version have ceased making them since this court action, so it must have some teeth. I guess how they are getting around it is to offer it part of the wand, perm attached. Seems very strange to me, as Harris is owned by Home Depot now and only provides support to their Chem Dry Franchise........and do not sell to anyone outside of their franchise network........heck I dont think Chemdry even uses wands in the US.
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As Greenglides interfere with the passage of water from jet to carpet, could they not be classed as diffusers rather than glides?
Safe and happy cleaning :)
The Ken
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Ken Harris sold them in Canada where the law is different, I believe Greenie was a distributor for him and then he took the US areas or went in competition.
Shaun
Did I ever mention that I was the first person in the UK to get a glide and preach the virtues of it? can't remember if I did kind of thing I keep to myself.
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I don't think you have told us that before Shaun. How long ago was that? Were Shillings still legal tender? Was the Teflon white as now or was it black like our pots and pans?
You hear the most wonderful and interesting stories here on CIU ::)
Safe and happy cleaning :)
The Ken
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I wasn't even born when shillings were legal tender......just ;D
Shaun
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There definitely seems to be some glides sold seperately on that site - maybe found a way round it?
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That's because it's Ken harris' site! duh! ::) ;D
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http://morecfm.com/store/privacy.php?osCsid=63732ad5d1d9064084f4efb5d5370deb
"Turboteck Supplies is a company owned and operated by Ken Harris,"
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Steve, we use a 2 jet wand which is the same as the one on that web site with a glide without jet extensions. We have no problem.
Richie.
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Jim,
Its not the same Ken Harris. Or at least that is what i have been informed.
Richie.
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Richie is correct...........
Harris Research was started by Robert Harris and has nothing to do with Ken Harris. Ironically they are both are from UT originally and have invented things for the cleaning industry.
http://www.chemdry.com/about/harris-research-inc
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Oh! Didn't know that, coincidence with the two names then...
which begs the question, if Ken Harris can legally be selling glides that look exactly like greenglides, they presumably look exactly like the glides made by the people who have taken greenglides to court.... so where's the difference?!!
???
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Jim,
I have no idea............but I do notice Ken's site is in Canada? Do they even make a patent that is enforceable internationally? I would only think is would only apply to companies in the US, or companies that have a parent company in the US. I dont know much about these matters.