| How many new products and inventions can you | | | | is activated when the car begins to sink. They would |
| dream up with in thirty minutes? At least a few if you | | | | quickly inflate in an accident involving submersion, and |
| know the techniques of innovation and creative | | | | would keep the car afloat. Put one in the trunk, and |
| problem solving. The following are thirty minute's worth, | | | | another inside the car, or have them come out from |
| with some notes at how they were arrived at. | | | | the wheel wells. To avoid accidental inflation, the |
| New Products and Inventions From Old | | | | triggering device would be activated by water, but be |
| A fast way to invent new things is to start with | | | | in a place where rain and car washing water couldn't |
| existing concepts and find new applications. With the | | | | reach. |
| concept of inflatable things, the first thing that comes | | | | Vending Machine Products and Inventions |
| to my mind is inflatable shelters for emergency | | | | When I considered the concept of vending machines, |
| situations, such as after earthquakes or hurricanes. | | | | the first thing that came to mind was a beer machine. |
| Such shelters could be transported easily, and erected | | | | It could only be used in a bar that was restricted to |
| quickly with a simple air pump. A basic large tent | | | | adults, of course. A big benefit is that it would lessen |
| design, but with inflatable ribs instead of poles might | | | | the need for bartenders, since half of all the drinks sold |
| work. | | | | in a bar are just simple beers. It is an innovation that |
| We can always find new products and inventions for | | | | could be implemented tomorrow, using beer in cans in |
| babies. Inflatable cribs or playpens come to mind. | | | | existing pop machines. |
| Deflated, they could be folded up and stored almost | | | | A vending machine for books and magazines might do |
| anywhere. A simple design for a playpen might be a | | | | decent business in an airport, bus station or other |
| plastic floor with a simple wall that surrounds it and is | | | | places where people are forced to sit for hours. They |
| attached to it. Think of air mattresses for swimming, | | | | may already exist, but I haven't seen them yet. Add |
| set on their sides, connected end to end and wrapped | | | | some padding to the drop chute, and existing snack |
| into a circle and you'll get the idea. | | | | vending machines could be used. |
| When we used to go "tubing" down rivers in Michigan, | | | | They sell phone cards everywhere now, but I haven't |
| we were forever trying new ways to carry a cooler | | | | yet seen them in vending machines. You could also sell |
| with us while keeping it convenient to get a soda or | | | | those collapsible umbrellas from a machine. There are |
| beer out of it. A solution could be an inflatable bar. It | | | | dozens of other things that could be profitably sold |
| might have a cooler built into it, have can and glass | | | | from vending machines. Use simple techniques like this |
| holders, and maybe even a secure place to set | | | | extension of existing concepts, and there are also |
| snacks. It could be used in a pool, lake or river. | | | | thousands of other new products and inventions |
| Many people drive into water and die each year. One | | | | waiting to be made. |
| solution to this problem might be inflatable flotation that | | | | |