Every great invention starts with a thought. It’s a moment when the proverbial light bulb goes off and a truly great idea emerges. Sure, we’ve all heard the stories about how Alexander Graham Bell invented the Graham Cracker or how the French duo Jacques Hone and Pierre Buket came up with the Honey Bucket. But it’s the lesser known inventions that intrigue me.
Here are some of the finest to date:
The Singing Pitch Aid
In 2008, a burly guy with a deep voice longed to sing falsetto. His dream was to be like Robert Plant hitting the high notes. His invention was simple – swing your head until contact is made and repeat as needed.
Electric Car
In 1984 Larry thought he’d come up with the perfect electric car. A dump truck thought otherwise. RIP.
Equal Opportunity Gangster Wear
Have you ever seen someone with their pants almost falling off their butt and thought “I could do that but I’m just too fashionable to go there.” One woman in Japan did a few years ago. The results (with built in jean-thong) are simply amazing. They’re tight.
Eco-lighter
Do you fret about the waste you produce as a First-World citizen? Do you find that throwing away even a single match fills you with extreme guilt? It did for the guy who invented this.
The Down On De-Corner Tool
Almost choking to death while shaving corn off a cob with your teeth is no laughing matter. After switching to baby corn for a few disappointing years, it inspired one guy to invent something like this.
Home Slip-And-Slide Kit
A Slip-And-Slide made from old roof shingles seemed like a cool way for this dad to teach his kids the value of recycling. But something about the slip-factor was off.
And probably the best lesser-known invention ever:
The Wearable Mini-Menorah
Feeling left out at the office party, a woman in 2006 came up with this. Great idea, but eye injuries doomed it to the same fate as the Home Slip-And-Slide Kit.
We salute you!
Once the 3D printer is created for public use, we should be seeing even more great (ahem) inventions.
This is real touchy subject for me. I was talking to smart people about a 3D printer that prints 3D printers but they were having none of it.
Send their award to the Mother of inventors, Necessity. I hear she has a basement full of underused inventions!
That basement must be cluttered beyond terror.
I would like to get hold of whoever invented the chillow. I bought two of those things, used one of them for a while, figured out it wasn’t going to give me the cool head I needed to sleep all night and got rid of it.
Did you try their sister invention, the Brillow (a pillow made from Brillo Pads)? I heard it worked great.
You mean… grate!
Now that is what I call deep research. Loved it!
Thanks. They hide this info to protect valuable trade secrets (I think).
Sometimes you kill me! hahaha
Thanks.
That singing pitch ad invention must have come from the Spanish Inquisition or something. And to think these inventions didn’t make the best in history list!
Criminal isn’t it?
May I just say, “hahahahahahahahaha!!”
You may, and thanks.