Charles’s current companies:
Advanced Elements– inflatable kayaks
Afloat– redesigned waterbed
Articles/videos/podcasts about Charles:
“Meet the Man who Invented the waterbed after the ‘60s ‘Summer of Love’”- Business Insider
Curiosity-ness: Inventor of the Waterbed, Charles Hall (video)
The Squishiest, Sweetest Sleep The New York Times
A new wave in waterbeds: Introducing the afloat CBS- video + article
Meet the Bainbridge Island Man who Invented the waterbed (King 5)- video
“Who Made That Water Bed?” The New York Times
The Groovy Origins of the Waterbed (YouTube video)
The History of Waterbeds (YouTube video)
Trailblazers with Walter Isaacson podcast (S3: EP6)
Waterbed– Wikipedia
Sleep tracker he uses:
His book recommendation:
Bio:
- Born Miami Beach, FL
- High school in St. Louis, MS
- Attended Univ. of Miami
- Transferred to SF State Univ. (BA in history)
- After graduation, found his true interest was in product design, entered industrial design dept, SF State University; received MA in product design
- Developed modern day water bed while a grad student
- Waterbed first showing was at cannery art gallery in San Francisco, Aug 1968
- Started Waterbed manufacturing and retail company (Inner Space Environments). Grew to 32 retail stores throughout CA
- Applied for and received US patent on basic waterbed concept. Patent validity upheld in 9th district US federal court. Judgment against one of largest infringers exceeded $6M
- Founded Basic Designs company that designed and manufactured camping, outdoor, and sailboat equipment. Later sold the company to division of K2
- Cofounder of Advanced Elements, design and manufacturing company for inflatable kayaks and other outdoor equipment
- Cofounder of Hall Flotation, manufacturers of AFLOAT waterbeds, the reimagined improved and updated modern day waterbed