BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Electricity became Thomas Edison's lightning rod to fame.

Joy High thought hers would be a new type of umbrella.

She took her idea to the Invention Submission Corporation after seeing a commercial. You may have seen the company's trademark caveman on television.

"I was more excited when I went into their office, and I saw all the things on the wall about many people who came up with the invention and how they were successful in their inventions," said Joy.

Joy paid I.S.C. one thousand dollars up front.

She wished she had paid closer attention to their success rate.

It's on a disclosure form she signed in 2001.

Only 21 out of 8,600 invention submission clients had received more money than they paid the company in the last five years.


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