#1714: ReachRover

If you want to have a military vehicle which can successfully traverse hilly, rough terrain, as well as high-tail it (stably) down a motorway, compromises about wheelbase length usually have to be made.

Today’s invention offers a new way to think about this problem.

A wheeled digger-type vehicle could be converted to a variable-wheelbase machine by providing it with a set of road wheels which could be easily clamped to the bucket at the front.

Press down with the bucket controls and the front wheels lift off the surface, allowing the machine to move on the bucket wheels and rear wheels only.

Varying the reach of the bucket provides the possibility of changing the wheelbase whilst in motion.

#1713: AirChair

Economy class fliers don’t get much legroom and the overhead lockers are a source of dispute and potential danger.

Today’s invention is a way for passengers to sit more comfortably.

Airline seats would consist of a back, straps and headrest only. Passengers would bring on board their own seat base. This would have to stay within outer dimensional limits but could be specially padded and formed to fit the user’s back, rear-end and leg shape.

Each of these seats would act as the traveller’s hand baggage, so that overhead lockers need not be provided.

#1712: SeenEyrie

One surprising thing is that many mountain tops seem to have mobile phone reception. They also often find themselves suddenly shrouded in mist.

Today’s invention is an app for a smartphone (something like this one).

Instead of showing people those stars which are invisible, the app in question would show the view, from anywhere on a mountain walk, which would be visible if the mist had not descended.

This could be a lifesaver for anyone lost, but also it might reduce disappointment for visitors who just happen to ascend on the wrong day to experience the scenic views they require.

#1711: Handstilled

I used to have a radio-controlled clock, with an analogue face, which was accurate to half a second per decade or something ridiculous.

My problem was that the mechanics of driving the minute hand were cheap and nasty plastic -so that it was always about half a degree away from the minute divisions on the face. This was especially noticeable because of the visual hyperacuity we all have for detecting misalignment.

Also, the vibration of the end of the minute hand made reading the time annoying…especially since the face was inscribed with various boasts about the device’s accuracy.

Today’s invention is such a clock but with the minute hand drawn on a rotating disk. This allows the hand to be set up in the factory exactly in line with the stationary minute divisions marked around the inner edge of the clock.

It also removes any possible waggling of the minute hand about its proper position.

#1710: Anonymask

I’ve done a lot of work on face recognition -especially how to get machines to do what people do effortlessly. This led to projects involving facial disguise techniques for witnesses etc.

Today’s invention attempts to employ this on behalf of people who want to exercise publicly but are embarrassed by being ungainly, unfit, under- or overweight. People who play paintball or icehockey or who do scuba diving or urban cycling already use masks, so let’s extend that concept a little.

Almost everyone would be much more willing to turn up at a gym, or pound the pavement, if they could do so anonymously (as Maurice Bowra said when caught swimming naked: “I don’t know about you, gentlemen, but in Oxford I, at least, am known by my face.”)

The invention is therefore an exercise facemask. There would be one standard size for males and one for females. Both would be made in a wirebrushed, translucent plastic, with eyeholes. This would avoid any uncanny-valley effect, but blur details and features by diffraction so as to make identification impossible.

Other features would include:
–An integrated, ventilated hood, to hold and hide one’s hair
–A few, small foam pads to space the mask off the surface of one’s face
–A small battery-powered fan, to minimise thermal discomfort during exercise
–Earphones to allow music to be listened to
–Pollen filters

This would also allow celebrities to work-out in privacy and once adopted by them, become generally acceptable gym-wear.

#1709: RemoTouch

People looking through shop windows at items for sale frequently want to get a better view of the product in question.

Today’s invention is a transparent touch screen, attached to a shop window, which allows a window shopper to indicate, using the by-now familiar gestures, which product they would like to see and then to bring it closer, spin it around etc.

Small products such as watches etc could be mounted on a standard motorised base unit for a couple of pounds each. This would allow them to be manipulated remotely through the glass.

When not being actively viewed, the motorised display stands could randomly bring an item up to the glass and slowly turn it (in coordination with directable spotlights in the window) so as to draw people’s attention.

#1708: Skateboardish

Today’s invention is a new way to reuse any old radio telescopes that happen to be lying around.

Their dished shape and size would make them ideal as skateboard parks.

An even newer twist would be to program their movement so as to slowly oscillate and rotate; challenging even the most skilled exponents of the sport.

#1707: Anti-racerase

Wear a race number these days and you will find yourself later being marketed to.

One such business model is about selling pictures of people as they compete. Just like school photographs, these images are shown to the proud prospect in a small format and with the photography company’s name emblazoned across the image. (These measures are supposed to provide the supplier with some assurance that they have given enough information to allow a sale -but not enough to cause people not to buy).

In fact, most people want a small picture that can be shown on their smartphone screen -which puts more pressure on the proprietory text. This often uses a simple, thin font in one colour.

Given that you can do image editing/manipulation on your phone, today’s invention is to create a form of captcha-like text to protect such images. It would have thick letterforms in a serif font so that a combination of paintpot and blur tools couldn’t be used to remove the letters cleanly. The letters themselves would each have a subtle colour gradient to compound the difficulty of removing them -without making them less legible.

#1706: VacuuMitt

There are lots of patents for boxing gloves which contain an inflatable bladder…intended to protect the hand of the wearer and the body of the opponent.

Today’s invention however is a boxing glove with an inner liner that can be deflated.

The wearer would put the glove on and air would be removed from the liner, using a small suction pump, so that an initial fist shape could be supported by the tension in the inner skin as it ‘shrink-wraps’ the fist.

Making the liner long enough to include the wrist, would reinforce that joint too, so that traumatic bending and crushing of all the bones directly involved in punching would be avoided.

The normal boxing glove outer layer would be unaffected by this inner shrinkage.

#1705: Diaphrim

Always keen on new cycle designs, I’ve been thinking a bit about filled-in wheels. Racing bikes have these to provide lower drag, but they suffer from sideways gusts of wind -especially when the front wheel is involved.

Today’s invention is a racing bicycle wheel, suitable for both front and rear use. This is a normal wheel which incorporates an iris diaphragm, made of something light like carbon fibre, in the outer rim.

Under calm conditions, the iris would be closed, allowing smooth airflow from front to back.

When the pressure difference from one side to the other crosses some threshold, as when a lateral gust of wind occurs, the diaphragms in both wheels would temporarily spring open, to avoid destabilisation of the machine.