Local hopes to save lives, money with invention

FALLBROOK — Local resident Don Cokeley and his partner, John Aho of Oceanside, have patented a device they say will reduce modular rollovers caused by wind on the highways, therefore saving lives and substantially reducing insurance losses.

Cokeley estimates that insurance claims for mobile and modular losses could currently total $25 to $40 million per year. He expects his invention, the “Rollinator,” could reduce that by 50 to 70 percent in insurance payouts, ultimately reducing premiums.

Cokeley, who owned Cokeley Trucking for more than 20 years, invented the device after personally experiencing the vulnerability of mobile and modular buildings and dangerous rollovers while transporting.

“One rollover shut down the I-15 for a few hours,” Cokeley said. “I had to come up with a way to improve the safety of both my team and the innocent drivers around us on the freeway. That’s when I came up with the concept. It was a primitive device back then, but it worked really well. It wasn’t until recently that I had the time to really develop it for other transporters.”

Cokeley hand-built the Rollinator and took it to Aho, who believed in the concept and has taken over the business and marketing aspects of their company, COAHO. The partners took the device to Chuck Miller of Miller Machine, who made some minor recommendations that Cokeley incorporated into the design. They received their patent in February.

While the Rollinator is not currently suitable for RVs, box trailers or horse trailers, COAHO is considering possible adaptations for future uses with other types of tow vehicles.

When asked if they plan to manufacture and sell the products locally, Aho said, “What we are really looking for at this point is someone in the manufacturing business to take over. I believe we have already done what we do best. We want to see this really make a difference in the industry and in people’s lives.”

Cokeley can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].