#796: Cutour

Today’s invention is a simple device which enables someone to create for themselves a snug-fitting, low cost storage or carrying case for objects which need a higher level of protection than a simple box provides.

The object to be stored is placed on eg a redundant telephone directory, a block of waste wood or a pile of used printer paper clamped to a desktop. It is manually drawn around using a suitably fat felt tip pen, leaving a closely fitting outline.

An electric drill, fitted with a hole-saw attachment (of an appropriate radius) is attached to a small ‘turtle’ like cart with crude contour-following capability. This moves around, drilling to a fixed depth inside the contour, until it has been hollowed out.

A smarter version would be capable of also drilling some isolated holes outside the contour, in order to reduce weight eg for shipping/carrying purposes.