What have you (not) invented/thought of.

[sathid]

I'm always coming up with ideas, playing with drawings or calculations and then either discovering it has already been done, or a few years later seeing it on the news somewhere.

Today is no exception.

I've been talking about a "people powered gym" for years. Where all of your cardio equipment is connected to generators that output power when people use it. I always wondered why it hasn't happened before.

This morning, whilst sitting here doing some uni work, I noticed a segment on some morning tv show, about a gym that is doing just that.

One day, I'll follow through with an idea...lol

So, I want to know what ideas you've had, that you have since discovered someone followed through.


Please no "I invented sliced bread" type comments please.

[Cap'n James086]

It's always hard to get ice-cream out of the scoop so I thought of having a little pad with a small button on the back of the scoop so you can just push it out. Something similar has been designed where a piece of metal sweeps the ice-cream out. :S

[g0zer]

when i was at uni, i invented a no spill bong- cos i was sick of stoned drunks spilling bongs all over my place :p

oh as it turned out my design was just a high aspect ratio hookah

[sathid]

It's always hard to get ice-cream out of the scoop so I thought of having a little pad with a small button on the back of the scoop so you can just push it out. Something similar has been designed where a piece of metal sweeps the ice-cream out. :S

lol. We had one of those things years ago.

[Phildo]

I've just spent a lot of the last couple of weeks chainsawing.

A light sabre (Star Wars style) would have made the job much easier.

[goof]

I've been talking about a "people powered gym" for years.

I've been close to that. My idea is a pedal powered computer. I spend way too long sat at the PC and not enough time exercising. When I do exercise it's boring as hell and I loose motivation. So... exercise at the PC!

Connect a generator to this, which in turn charges the batteries in a UPS.



3. ???
4. Profit


Edit: Wise words I heard long ago, "It's not the idea that's valuable, it's the ability to do something with it that counts".

[Shortfuse]

Safety clip so kids cant get their seatbelt off in the car. Made a working prototype, the lot. Cost of patent bit steep tho.

Roller shutter type cover for ute trays. Now see them everywhere.

Air filled pontoon boat lift for boats in pens, canal homes etc. See them everywhere too now.

Damn

[Bunyack]

A miniature ladder so spiders and crickets can get out of the bath.

[Blade_954]

Over the past two years I've been working on a totally new design of the Internal Combustion engine! (no, it's not another type of rotary!!)
It appears to work in theory by my calculations and designs, but a prototype is yet to be built due to initial costs.
A patent however is currently being sought from Griffith Hack - Australian Patent Attorneys and Intellectual Property Lawyers while searches for similar designs are continuing.....

Ralph Sarich.....eat ya heart out!!

[footer]

Roller shutter type cover for pools, so then kids can not fall in.

[Mockery]

Over the past two years I've been working on a totally new design of the Internal Combustion engine! (no, it's not another type of rotary!!)
It appears to work in theory by my calculations and designs, but a prototype is yet to be built due to initial costs.
A patent however is currently being sought from Griffith Hack - Australian Patent Attorneys and Intellectual Property Lawyers while searches for similar designs are continuing.....

Wow, I'd be really interested to hear more info on this, once it's "safe" for you to divulge details...
or you could PM me and I promise not to steal your idea!

There have definitely been times where I have been very close to 'inventing' something, only to be told "yeah they sell things like that at Bunnings"
Can't think of any right now...

[Aphex]

I have a few things related to safety in various areas of the home and workplace im tinkering with. Have found similar devices but nothing quite the same.

[browncow]

A heated loo seat.

I hate getting up at 5 AM to take a dump and the seat is colder than Absolute Zero.

[Aphex]

A heated loo seat.

I hate getting up at 5 AM to take a dump and the seat is colder than Absolute Zero.

Theres a simple solution to this....

1) Roll over to signigicant other assuming a spoon like position.
2) Lower free arm to area around SO's bladder
3) Squeeze with increasing force until SO can no longer hold on
4) SO will get up and head for the loo
5) Once SO returns, you can now head for the loo and its comfy pre-warmed seat.

Great success.

[The Saint]

Years ago I "invented" a water bottle holder/carrier that would sit in the small of a runner's back, attached by straps that ran over the shoulders and around the abdomen.

... only to discover that such a device had already been manufactured and marketed to the running community.

Back to the drawing board

[nang3]

Theres a simple solution to this....

1) Roll over to signigicant other assuming a spoon like position.
2) Lower free arm to area around SO's bladder
3) Squeeze with increasing force until SO can no longer hold on
4) SO will get up and head for the loo
5) Once SO returns, you can now head for the loo and its comfy pre-warmed seat.

Great success.

genius !!!!

[Crashlington]

2 stroke diesel engine. thought of the whole thing in my head.

then found out im about 90 years too late

[Sprint]

Flavoured milk.

Oh the humanity!

S.

[Rooster]

Back scratcher/cleaner for in teh shower.
Like a big louffa matt suction capped to the wall.

[Princess deb]

...