Inventions often happen in situ – or they relate to things right where you are. This is probably because invention is often fulfilling a need. So if you happen to need something, you just invent the solution.
The invention featured once you click through the Sketch Book icon below is an example of an idea to solve a direct need – that of squeezing toothpaste. It came to me in the bathroom as preparing to brush my teeth.
Click here to see the sketch in Zen Pan
Because I invent a lot of things while relaxing in the bathtub… I have a number of bathtub inventions. These I will feature in future Sketch Book posts.
I used to write down inventions in the car and many of them would relate to the road or driving, etc. So if you want to invent in a certain area, it helps to be in that area to gain focus and recognize possibilities.
Inventing for your location is not always necessary. Our minds of course can project our thinking into distant scenarios – even into the realms of fantasy and future. One thing that helps is a sketch book. A sketch book and a bunch of Mirado pencils could be the best buy you ever make!
Over the next while, I’ll be posting sketches from my sketch books along with tips with respect to creating using a sketch book.
Excellent idea with many applications. It would be a boon to those with arthritis in their hands, which makes squeezing anything with the fingers a painful and often impossible task. It would also be welcomed by those who use denture adhesive, a thick substance that requires considerable effort to push out of the tube.
While you’re inventing in this area, please make a delivery tube without the rigid shoulder that prevents getting all contents out.
This is an interseting take on the idea. Such an invention has be made but not ot that complexity. It’s purpose is more to get every last drop out of the toothpaste. its simply 2 plastic rods with 2 very tight elastics on each end hold the rods together. simply place the toothpaste between the 2 rods and pull the aparatuse up the toothpaste and ‘ta-da’. Out comes toothpaste and not a drop is wasted. now if you combine this and judith’s idea with your invention I think you’ld have something that covers all the annoyances of toothpaste minus not having a wide variety of tastes. Something to think on I guess….hrmmmmm
I personally wouldn’t bother with that invention. It seems a little too complicated for me. Plus I use toothpaste that comes in a container like this http://cns2.uni.edu/~wallingf/blog-images/misc/toothpaste.jpg It makes life easier and you don’t have to worry about toothpaste tubes. Plus it comes in cinnamon flavor which is awesome. It looks like my mouth is foaming blood while I brush my teeth.
Good times.
You make me think that my 6 sketch books are not enough. I really need more so that I can capture ideas anywhere.
I am impressed with your ability to “invent in the car”. All I think about in the car is how much I hate the commute and why the guy in front of me is driving so slow or why the BMW ahead is driving like a maniac. I personally need a calmer space to invent, create or imagine…
For most a pictures worth a 1000 words a tool to electronically sketch ideas would work nicely for someone like me who prefers the computer to paper, I would just include icon packs for visualizing the ideas for those of us who can’t draw a strait line with a ruler