Portable Hairdryer

This hairdryer has an internal fan which converts kinetic energy (created by the spin of the fan) into electricity. This electricity is then stored in a battery which keeps the hairdryer charged. This therefore means it can be called a ‘portable hairdryer’. This product would be great for camping, travelling etc. I always hear people moaning (especially women) about not being able to take their hairdryer with them camping so it’s a great way to silence them! I am not certain whether this concept has been developed by anyone or whether it can be currently developed but I know it would be popular.

Basically the design involves just a regular hairdryer. As its being used at home, the wind produced when turned on, drives the internal fan. This fan works exactly the same as wind farms; it drives a turbine (I’m not an engineer) which produces electricity. This electricity is stored in the battery. This means it only needs a small amount of electricity to start it (which can be found in a rechargeable battery) and then it uses that renewable energy produced to run it.

Hope you don’t get ‘blown away’ by that idea!

Why did I say that?

Pumping Shoe

One way to produce energy could be a pump mechanism in a shoe heel. I have no idea whether this idea has been developed or patented at all, I came up with it all by myself so don’t cut me down harshly. But every time pressure is put on the heel by walking or running, a pump is pushed which creates pressure which in turn drives the mechanisms used to produce electricity which could then be stored in a battery. Now I have little knowledge of how this could work, but if it could work, it could be given to people in 3^rd world countries, giving unfortunate people a chance to produce electricity freely as well as those who are more fortunate a chance to charge their iPod.

Of course this idea would have to be developed into realism. Just an ‘idea flash’ that’s all!

Jigsaw Pillows

Here’s a fun idea: Jigsaw pillows. Now you may be thinking, “what on earth”, but hey, this is a crazy concept blog, anything goes!

I hate carrying pillows around with me when I’m travelling so a simple solution to that would be if they were blow-up. Another additional idea which would make it easier is if you could slot them into each other. Now this gives you the opportunity to produce a mattress with them which then gives this concept multiple potential. Because they are blown-up one can deflate them, packing them into a flat square or rolling them up, creating a very easy-to-carry pillow/mattress.

There are two different slot types. No. 1 type slots in No. 2 and vice versa. The ‘jigsaw flap’ slots into the inverted gaps, fastening the two pillows together. The zip holds the fold-away ‘jigsaw flap’ so they are not an obstructions at the edges of the pillow combination. Another possible idea is that if the slots are not securing enough, magnets could be placed on the end of the slots and inside the inverted slots, fastening them tighter and more securely.

One can have the pillows as blown up or as little blown up as they like, customizing their pillows/mattress comfort. Pillow cases and sheets can also be placed around or on the pillows.

So that’s it. Portable, easy, fun pillows which can be transformed into a bed.

Taking It To The Next Step

 Before anyone is wondering, no, I'm not taking it to the next level (even though I would love to). But I came across this blog about professional prototype software, and well, it puts my simple drawings to shame! I would love to design like this though...

http://www.inventionaddict.com/2011/06/17/3-d-cad-models-how-to-prototype-just-about-anything/

Kinetic Collar

Dog + Walk + Conversion of kinetic energy into electrical energy = my new idea!

 Once again, I am clueless to the physics or whether it could be possible or even whether this has already been produced. However kinetic watches seem to produce electricity to drive the watch hands, surely at some stage if not currently, kinetic energy can charge an iPod or a phone. This electricity could be very useful to dog walkers especially as music and communication maybe the only entertainment and motivation on a long and tiring walk. A “kinetic dog collar”, with ports for iPods, phones etc, in my mind, would be a good idea.

So for now it’s in the “future development of idea” box!

Sound Shower

The other day I reached into my shower to feel the temperature after letting it run for a while. I found out, the hard way, that it was scolding hot. I was not only a little annoyed that I had burnt my hand, I was also frustrated that I had wasted time waiting for it to warm up to the desired temperature. So I had a think...

I came up with a way to work out the desired temperature without touching the water or even being in the room. Firstly you set the shower to the required temperature that you like, the first time you get the device (this temperature will be remembered for every other shower you take). Then the device will play a single note, high or low depending on how high or low your desired temperature is. This sound will be played constantly when the shower is turned on (you can turn it off when you want to, just press the “off” button). A second tone will be played, which is determined by the temperature of the shower when you turn it on. It will rise as the water temperature rises. Once the tone of the shower temperature is the same as your desired temperature you know that it’s a perfect shower.

The great thing about this is that it can be attached to any shower and that you could hear it from another room, it’s basically a sound timer.  

Of course this only works with people who are not ‘tone-deaf’ or who are not deaf. It could be very useful for people who are blind, or for those who struggle with feel though. And what’s great about this little device is that it can be used not just in a shower, but in a bath, taps, Jacuzzis etc!