An idea for ironing on buttons on clothing. Adhesive tabs on the back would slip through grommet holes. When ironed flat, they’d be waterproof and unaffected by cleaning.
By J.J.McGraw, New York City
Creative Ideas From The Past
This is an idea for asbestos cylinder gaskets with thermocouples to supplement car generators. The hot junction would point to the cylinder and the cold junction to the water hole.
By J.V.S. Murty, Visakha Patnam, India.
I doubt that anyone would recommend using asbestos for anything these days!
A quick locking dog collar would eliminate the struggle to get it on. The fastener would slide together and lock as some belt buckles do.
By Clark Thompson, Corona del Mar, California
This is an idea for postage meters on street corners so you could stamp a letter by dropping in a coin. Larger boxes could incorporate a postcard dispenser too.
By Lon Calhoun, phoenix.
Built-in storage in automatic washers to house soap box and bleach bottle. There must be some extra space under that glossy housing.
By Elena Echavarria, Medellin, Colombia.
Mattress flippers built into beds. Few women wrestling with a mattress for a double bed succeed in turning it over without calling for help
By H.J.Graw, Brooklyn, New York.
Pistol grip handles on the burners of propane torches. A trigger valve would control the flame. Then long jobs would be easier on your hand.
By Andrew Vena, Philadelphia.
Tamperproof gas tanks with a screen guard in the inlet pipe, set low enough to insert the fuel hose, but too high for a thief to siphon off the gas.
By Tom Whipps, Columbus, Ohio.
A fruit pickers bag or basket with a sleeve-like extension. Just drop the apples or other fruit down into the chute clipped to your arm.
By Louis Burzdak, Los Angeles.
Flat appliance cords for outdoor equipment. With adhesive on one side, they’d stick to a wall or patio floor, be much safer, and look neater.
By Rich and Hughes, Pompano Beach, Fla.