Seal Beach Inventor Behind Hands-free iPad Holder

Picture this: You're relaxing in bed with your Kindle, and instead of having to awkwardly balance the e-reader on your knees, you simply slip it into a Cozeee and read away.  

The Cozeee looks likes a pillow and holds iPads, tablets and e-readers so you can use the devices hands-free. Cozeee is the brainchild of Seal Beach resident Shannon Richardson and her business partner, Huntington Beach resident Wendy Osborn.

"Cozeee came about because Shannon and I were talking about how tiring it became to hold our iPads in our hands while using them and we were joking about taping the iPad to a pillow to hold it in place," Osborn said. "The light bulb went off, so to speak, and Cozeee was born."

Richardson, an Arcadia High School graduate who co-owns The 9 Salon in Monrovia, and Osborn, a waitress who graduated from Monrovia High School, met as children when their parents dated for a time.

Though their parents' romance didn't last, Osborn and Richardson's friendship did. The pair "are like sisters" and even have birthdays just one day apart (Richardson's is Jan. 27, Osborn's is Jan. 28.)

Richardson and Osborn said they've always loved to toss around invention ideas in the hopes of going into business together. Cozeee seemed like just the ticket.

"We are two girls trying to make our dreams come true," Richardson said.

To that end, the women have turned to Kickstarter.com. They have 22 more days left to raise the $25,000 they need to get Cozeee off the ground. To date, the women have six backers who have donated a total of $270.

Richardson and Osborn have big dreams for Cozeee. They say they hope to create more Cozeee products and see Cozeees carried by most retail stores that sell tablets and accompanying accessories.

But more importantly, Richardson, a single mom to a 6-year-old boy, says she wants to show her son "it's OK to dream big and go for it." Meanwhile, Osborn, a breast cancer survivor, said she wants to use Cozeee as a means to give back to the organizations that helped save her life.

The best friends say the concept of Cozeee has received a positive response so far.

"We have many who are already asking where can they buy one, and others respond with comments such as 'genius,' and 'what a great idea, I definitely need one,'" Osborn said.

To donate to Cozeee, visit Richardson's and Osborn's Kickstarter.com page. The minimum donation is $1. For more information, go to Cozeee's Facebook page.