So brilliant, the Israelis can't help but occupy it! Secret Swiss precision invention inside a car key lets you vanish borrowed jewelry, then claim you're a genius!
In 2001, we revolutionized ring flight with the launch of Steve Sheraton's awesome invention—a deviously hidden reel, concealed within a seemingly ordinary car key. This groundbreaking device effortlessly handled every aspect of an impromptu, baffling trick, and could be carried with you everywhere, even before the term "EDC" existed.
Time travel with us and marvel at the 2001 Hottrix Website for glorious GIFs and hyperbole (also on Internet Archive's June 2001 backup).
The story behind Rinkey Dinkey - stolen by Yigal Mesika
Before Murphy's Magic and Yigal Mesika colluded to steal this invention, a lot of work had to be done.
In 1999, when car keys were becoming larger to accommodate remote controls, Steve invented a key that maintained a natural appearance while housing a reel in its top.
This was a crazy feat of miniaturization because it was at a time when reels were still the size of a fist and years before small badge retractor reels became ubiquitous at office supply stores.
Perfecting the design took a few years, with molds and mechanics designed in Switzerland and manufacturing taking place in Asia. Communication relied on fax, and corrections (wax models and mockups; this was pre-CAD software) were sent via expensive FedEx shipments and trips half way around the globe. Compared to today, this was a major undertaking usually reserved for large companies acting in much bigger markets.
By 2000/2001, the awkwardly named invention graced full-page ads in Magic Magazine, making history. Amusingly, the key unlocked Steve's Nissan, and he found it hilarious that thousands of people could unknowingly open his car.
Rinkey Dinky's launch made waves in the pre-Internet era, where a cool product advertised in a real magazine sold throughout the entire year.
Over the years Hottrix agreed to the creation of updated versions such as PropDog's Ring Flight Revolution, which first looked like a fat fob to resemble 2014 mainstream cars, then like a skinny key to a Mini, which seemed to heavily inspire a gentleman in LA who is know to defend his "inventions" vigorously...
Stolen 25 years too late
Genius re-invents the reel
In 2024, Israeli merchant and self-proclaimed "Genius inventor" Yigal Mesika made the dubious claim of having invented a car key with a built-in reel—a concept that sounds all too familiar.
Experts, reviewers, retailers, and consumers agree: It's an exact copy of our invention down to the hilarious fact that cars are no longer opened this way...
Shockingly, the same wholesalers and resellers who originally traded Rinkey Dinky distributed this product, as if the original had never existed or as if it were perfectly acceptable to proclaim another's invention as one's own. The story got even wilder, when Murphy's Magic Supplies claimed that a car key is not a car key but an Airtag.
Murphy's struggle with ethics
Murphy's Magic (a monopolistic US-distributor) is at the heart of enabling this abusive behavior by not just turning a blind eye but knowingly supporting criminals like Mesika and going on record, stating that crediting/attribution isn't needed and that the two identical products have nothing in common.
It gets better; In 2025 Murphy's removes Mark Bennett's ring flight (an Apple Airtag with a reel) from their catalog, stating that it's too similar to Mesika's Key (his ripoff of our key). An Airtag is more like a car key than a car key itself? If you want to point fingers, just follow the money; You'll always end up at Murphy's Magic Supplies.
This is what happens when IP thieves and monopolists rewrite history for profit. Mesika steals inventions then patent trolls competitors. Murphy's enables and protects him. Together they're gaslighting our entire community.
Magic thrives on ethics and respect. Boycott Mesika and Murphy's. Support original creators and honest distributors.
Organized Crime in Magic Exposed?
This excellent investigative reporting video by Craig Petty documented the pattern of theft and intimidation surrounding Mesika. Of course it vanished from YouTube due to ominous legal claims but our friends secured a copy and are hosting it in safe places for you to watch and share:
2026 Update: They're Now Suing the Journalist
Not content with stealing inventions, filing fake patents, getting exposés pulled from YouTube, and intimidating creators into silence — Yigal Mesika has now filed a defamation lawsuit in California against Craig Petty and Penguin Magic.
Craig Petty. A UK citizen. Sued in a US court. For interviewing victims and presenting evidence. That's not defamation — that's journalism. And suing to stop it has a name: SLAPP — Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation. It's designed to bankrupt, not to win.
Craig recorded this 10-minute response. Watch it:
And here's a brilliant independent breakdown of the entire situation by PigCake — a fresh voice with no skin in the game, just a functioning moral compass:
Your Money Funds This
Every Loops pack, every Tarantula, every Spider Pen you buy — exclusively distributed by Murphy's Magic — funds the legal war chest now aimed at a journalist for reporting the truth. Every retailer carrying Mesika products is part of this machine whether they know it or not.
You have a choice. You've always had a choice. Now you know exactly what your money pays for.
I watched Craig Petty's videos and read all your stuff. It's scandalous. My email was even stolen by Mesika and I found out on www.stolenbymesika.com.
Vote with your wallet and boycott Mesika products, boycott Murphy's.
Yigal Mesika is a thief! RC — Jun 19, 2024
Yigal Mesika is a patent troll! He steals and he lies! A cursory glance at legal documents draw a grim picture of a man who likes to patent things that aren't his to protect in the first place, then raise hell until he's the only one left selling a specific item.
By omitting facts and prior art from the patent inspectors and other officials he fraudulently obtains IP protection which he then "defends". He's a criminal and a bully. Murphy's Magic Supplies (a de facto monopoly in this industry) full well knows this, yet still distributes his illicit merch; Murphy's is an enabler and an accomplice in crime!
Snagged! Genius re-invents the reel... Fran — May 1, 2024
OMG; I just watched the Wizard Magic Review and saw the Mesika ripoff. This dude's been bullying every magician, lying that they stole from him and now he got caught for doing exactly that himself and it couldn't be more obvious. F*** Mesika! F*** Murphy's.
Just Received RinKey Dinky Kurt Kruze — Jul 27, 2014
It's superb. I've always been reluctant to do any version of the ring flight effect because of many of the same reasons that you cover in you download manual, but this is SO natural! I'm looking forward to using an item which I feel will become part of me, rather than an awkward magish-y prop ( if you know what I mean) Please keep me updated with any further ideas with this item, as I thought the Pendragon routine was great.
