Painting edging tape

I hate applying masking tape when cutting in difficult edges. Even with the new blue tape, it takes too long, it is hard to get the tape into tough corners, the tape is too thick, and the edge is not straight.

Imagine instead a hard-edged plastic sheet, 6 inches long and 1.5 inches wide, with a sticky back. Just like the 3M tabs, but 6 or 12 inches long, on sheets. Easy to apply, and even easier to pull off with the tabs.

Sink Leak Detector

Leaks in plumbing are often found only after they have done considerable damage.

The leak detector is an absorbent device that attaches to pipes and sounds an alarm when it gets wet.

It can be clipped, stuck or velcroed in place. A simple electronic alarm that is activated when water connects the circuit. The battery should last years, until needed.

Place it at the low point of a pipe where water will collect as it drips, and you are protected from expensive leaks with early detection.

The detector can also be used in boats, basements, and roof systems where leaks are possible.

Custom guitar picks

One of my favorite concert memorabilia items is a guitar pick from an Echo and the Bunnymen concert (Agora Ballroom, sometime in the mid 80s).

I think a lot of other people feel the same way.

But the pick itself is in no way special.

I wonder if bands would be interested in a custom guitar pick, that played the same way they are used to, yet include embedded in the media a photo of the album cover for the current tour, and the date and show location. A whole box of the custom picks would be available at the start of each show, and the guitarist could chuck them at will.

This Room is Occupied sensor

I spent 4 days in hotels this week, and was totally annoyed by the cleaning staff trying to enter the room 3 times over 4 days while I was in the room.

I want a motion sensor installed in the room, one in the main room, one in the bathroom, that senses movement. This sets the room “isOccupied” flag to Occupied.

On the door leaving the room, there is another sensor that notices when the door is opened, and sets the flag to Not Occupied.

On the outside of the door, built into the door frame, is a small LED sensor, that is lit green when the room is occupied.

This would instantly let the staff know when someone is still in their room.

This sensor system would also be useful for homes, and for small restrooms in commercial spaces.

It even could serve as a security device in homes, small offices and cars, letting you know that someone is in the building before you enter.

Woodshed

Many suburban households today have wood fireplaces, wood stoves, and backyard campfires.

Very few have the interest, ability or tools to cut and manage their own wood supply. Most have their wood supply delivered.

They also have to deal with the potential eyesore of a woodpile.

The woodshed is a small prefab shed, in either 4×4 or 4×8 (half-cord or cord) sizes, that fit over a standard pallet or double pallet of stacked cordwood.

Doors - optional siding - to match house roof, sides - fixed Floor - pallet (oak or pine?) light enough to lift and place over new pallet. less than $200 (the price of 1 1/2 cords) list of "approved" wood suppliers by zipcode type of wood (oak, hardwood, etc) green or seasoned dumped or stacked on pallet

Bicycle mileage tracker

Just like Nike and Apple have done for running, I would like a device that hooks the iPod to my bike, and lets it track mileage and movement.

It would need to include a community site like Nike has for posting the content, talking about it, and finding people to ride with you.

A map to track real mileage and a fictional map to show “you have ridden 156 miles to date, you could have reached New York City…”

Tee-r-up Golf Aid

watching on the 7th tee.

old folks are shaky, bad knees, cant bend, arthritis

still want to golf. but cant too up.

drop from waist height. self righting. weeble wobble, weighted base

2 possible opening mechanisms; petal opening that cradles ball when closed, or tennis-ball can like sleeve that collapses once setup.

how does it open? options could include:

• 10 seconds timer
• belt remote
• accelerometer
• mercury direction switch.
• switch hit with club?

pick up with club?

low profile so swing is not effected.

Leaf compactor

Our landfill is stuffed full of leaves each winter.

Would it be possible to make a trash compactor for leaves that would produce logs or small bricks that can be burned in a fireplace or stove?

Jeep Hardtop Buddy

Impossible to find a friend to help you take your Jeep top on and off?

Use this to make the transition easy and fast.

(mini swingset. back jeep under it, hook it up, pull up, drive away. include pouch for hardware)

Also works for pickup caps.

Old Trailer Reconditioning

Here is an idea for a young go-getter with some mechanical skills.

Small teardrops. Big old aluminum pull-behinds. There is definitely a market out there for yuppies who love the retro look and lifestyle.

Provide a service reconditioning old metal skinned trailers to livable condition, either stock or with all the modern amenities.

Bad ones sell really cheap, and good ones sell for a lot of money.

Provide a community, website, and get-togethers for people living “the lifestyle”