A ‘Dandy Horse’ was the colloquial name given to a primitive pedal-less bicycle which was a fashionable mode of transport in Europe around 1819. Fast forward to 2008, when a US patent was granted for an ‘Apparatus for Shifting Weight from a Runner to a Wheeled Frame ‘ – which, at first glance seems remarkably similar. […]
Tag: invention
A Big Spring in One’s Step Makes One Faster
An almost-Nakamatsian invention would let human runners run much faster, explains a new study: “How to run 50% faster without external energy,” Amanda Sutrisno and David J. Braun, Science Advances, vol. 6, no. 13, March 25, 2020, eaay1950. The authors, at Vanderbilt University, report: “Humans have attempted to surpass their natural running capability using springs […]
Reinventing the spoon [new patent]
“Spoons are used to lift fluids or semi-solids from a bowl, pot or plate. Most fluids are held within the outer lip of the spoon. Traditional spoons include a bowl portion and a handle that extends from the bowl portion. While traditional spoons are effective for preparing, eating, or serving foods, often times liquids drip […]
“Air Throne” – relief for drummers who sit on sticky stools [new patent]
“A drum ‘throne’ is a three or four-legged padded seat or stool the drummer sits on while playing. Thrones may be shaped like round cushions or in a saddle design. Throne heights may be adjusted to accommodate the drummer.” “The drummer performs while seated on a drum throne to free up both arms and legs […]
Lip-pumping invention avoids “ducky” lips [new patent]
“Although useful for their intended purpose, currently available lip pumps can have negative side effects. After use, some lip pumps will leave unattractive marks, bruising, indentations, and grooves around a user’s lip area. In addition, some lip pumps continuously apply suction to both lips. Unfortunately, these types of lip pumps can cause misshaped lips and […]
Finger-Food Hygiene Attachments [new patent]
US-based inventor Peter Delgrosso points out that consuming finger foods can sometimes be a hygienically suboptimal process – with a (timely) reminder that, in the act of eating finger foods ; “Germs, bacteria, and other harmful elements (e.g., microorganisms, viruses, chemicals, etc.) on our hands and fingers can then make their way into the body.” […]
Fingers-Only Glove [new patent]
Fingerless gloves, in one form or another, have been around for a very long time. But the reverse, a glove that has only fingers has only recently been invented. US-based inventor Adam Walker has come up with a device that sidesteps the time-consuming and (sometimes) difficult process of putting on (and taking off) a pair […]
Hula-Hoops as electrical generators [studies]
“We designed and implemented a human-powered generator which could provide large electricity by using and measured a human metabolic energy expenditure needed to operate it.“ – explain researchers Yoon-Ho Lim, Jeong-Jin Yeo, Mun-Ho Ryu and Yoon-Seok Yang of Chonbuk National University, Korea, who have, between them, developed a hula-hoop inspired human-powered electric generator. Their experimental […]
A “Gyroscopic” no-spill cup-holder [new patent]
“For travelers, balancing luggage, a snack, personal items, and a drink can be difficult, often resulting in spilling of beverages either while walking around or while seated on, for example, a plane or in a car.” What one needs, perhaps, is a self-stabilizing drinks-cup holder? And, fortunately, a newly patented solution has become available. Inventor […]
Bristly pacifiers, for weaning [new patent]
If you gave a baby a pacifier [that’s ‘dummy’ in the UK] which was covered in (mildly) irritating bristles, what kind of psychological impact might that have? “Minimal” says the documentation for a newly patented invention that incorporates : “[…] bristle like structures which discourages continued use of the pacifier by a child of appropriate […]