Odd Inventions
Patents you can't believe got approved.
Someone Patented a Hat That Tips Itself
James Boyle's 1896 patent let gentlemen greet ladies with full hands. Discover the surprising story behind someone patented a hat that tips itself in this in-
There Is a Patent for Time Travel
The U.S. patent office has granted devices that defy physics, sort of. Discover the surprising story behind there is a patent for time travel in this in-depth
Super Glue Was Discovered While Trying to Make Gun Sights
Chemist Harry Coover stuck everything together by accident in 1942. Discover the surprising story behind super glue was discovered while trying to make gun si
The Frisbee Was Inspired by Pie Tins
Yale students were tossing them around in the 1940s. Discover the surprising story behind the frisbee was inspired by pie tins in this in-depth Odd Inventions
The Coca-Cola Recipe Used to Contain Cocaine
Until 1903, the formula included extract from the coca leaf. Discover the surprising story behind the coca-cola recipe used to contain cocaine in this in-dept
The Pet Rock Made Its Inventor Millions
Gary Dahl convinced America to buy stones in 1975. Discover the surprising story behind the pet rock made its inventor millions in this in-depth Odd Invention
The Slinky Was Originally a Naval Instrument
Engineer Richard James was trying to stabilize ship equipment in 1943. Discover the surprising story behind the slinky was originally a naval instrument in th
Play-Doh Was Originally a Wallpaper Cleaner
It only became a toy when coal heating fell out of fashion. Discover the surprising story behind play-doh was originally a wallpaper cleaner in this in-depth
Microwave Ovens Were Discovered Because a Chocolate Bar Melted
Engineer Percy Spencer noticed during a 1945 radar experiment. Discover the surprising story behind microwave ovens were discovered because a chocolate bar me
WD-40 Took 40 Tries to Get Right
The name literally stands for 'Water Displacement, 40th formula'. Discover the surprising story behind wd-40 took 40 tries to get right in this in-depth Odd I
The First Vending Machine Sold Holy Water
Hero of Alexandria invented it in the 1st century CE. Discover the surprising story behind the first vending machine sold holy water in this in-depth Odd Inve
There's a Patent for Combing Hair Over Bald Spots
The comb-over technique was officially patented in 1977. Discover the surprising story behind there's a patent for combing hair over bald spots in this in-dep
There's a Patent for a 'Force Sensitive Touch Screen' Cat
Inventors have filed some bizarre concepts to give animals user interfaces. Discover the surprising story behind there's a patent for a 'force sensitive touch
There's a Patent for an Anti-Eating Face Mask
Patent #4,344,424 is exactly what it sounds like. Discover the surprising story behind there's a patent for an anti-eating face mask in this in-depth Odd Inve
Velcro Was Inspired by Burrs Stuck to a Dog
George de Mestral examined the burrs under a microscope in 1941. Discover the surprising story behind velcro was inspired by burrs stuck to a dog in this in-d