The already invented invention.

garinda · 14-11-2007, 23:37

Since last week I have now to take a combination of drugs for Parkinson's every four hours that I'm awake.

It used to be three times a day, which was nice and easy, as I just had them at meal times.

I'm finding it a real pain, as I sleep such strange hours, and the times I have to take them is different everyday. Sometimes the first one's at 7am, or maybe 8.15am, and you have to remember the four hourly intervals all day long.

I've tried setting the alarm on my phone, but you have to keep resetting it, which is a pain.

Wouldn't it be good if there was a pillbox that had a timer, that alerted you everytime you need a dose of drugs, thought I.

A quick search on Google, revealed that lots of other people must have thought the same thing before myself, as there are literally hundreds of different models on the market.

Being tight, and wanting to save on postage if possible, I'll hang fire on the one I've selected, and first see if they sell them in Accrington at the weekend.

Wonderful thing, the internet.

Without it I might have pitched the idea on Dragon's Den, only to be told the product I'd invented was already in the shops.

Anyone else thought they'd come up with something new and unique, only to find someone else has beaten them to it?

cherokee · 14-11-2007, 23:45

Rindy ther is a pillbox that reminds you to take your pills ...
my bro has just been given one .Ihavent seen it yet but from what i can gather it bleeps if you forget to take them and if you dont hear the beep it sends a signal to his warden so that they can ring him to tell him to take them .. dunno all the ins and outs of it but it does exist

garinda · 14-11-2007, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherokee

Rindy ther is a pillbox that reminds you to take your pills ...
my bro has just been given one .Ihavent seen it yet but from what i can gather it bleeps if you forget to take them and if you dont hear the beep it sends a signal to his warden so that they can ring him to tell him to take them .. dunno all the ins and outs of it but it does exist

Thanks.

I've found loads of them, and will buy a natty little red one online, if they don't sell them in Accy.

MargaretR · 14-11-2007, 23:50

I am not inventive in that way, but always find an alternative use for things.
I have a steel towel rail wall mounted in the kitchen from which my pans hang from butchers hooks.
A mobile vegetable rack in the bathroom which has slide out shelves of toiletries and towels.
A steel PC trolley in the kitchen provides me with a 'brewing up' area, and the slide out keyboard shelf has my butter dish for sandwich making
A kitchen timer in the bedroom ensures my daytime naps last no longer than one hour.
I call that being inventive

andrewb · 14-11-2007, 23:57

Had an idea for a braile monitor when I was in high school. Already done though it turns out

Bonnyboy · 14-11-2007, 23:58

I've thought of several things that I thought at first were my own ideas...when I realised they had already been thunk of I banished the buggers forever. Hopefully I will remember them and add them to the thread as I do.......buggered if I can think of them at the min.

cherokee · 15-11-2007, 00:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Thanks.

I've found loads of them, and will buy a natty little red one online, if they don't sell them in Accy.

RED!!!! oooo you wantan little mare

WillowTheWhisp · 15-11-2007, 06:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonnyboy

I've thought of several things that I thought at first were my own ideas...when I realised they had already been thunk of I banished the buggers forever. Hopefully I will remember them and add them to the thread as I do.......buggered if I can think of them at the min.

I know that feeling. I've thought of a few things but once I knew they already existed I forgot about them.

I think one was something to do with clothes pegs but it didn't sell.

entwisi · 15-11-2007, 07:10

I've had two major ones, one I'll tell you the other I'm still working out the best way to go about it as it involves another companies product in an innovative way

Led in bed one summer night after a summer shower the window was open and all I could hear all night was teh "drip, drip drip " of the water falling the length of the drainpipe and hitting the bend at the bottom. My idea was to have a very coarse internal 'screw thread' running the length of the pipe so that water could only ever fall 4 or 5 inches then it would by surface tension be 'rifled' down the pipe and out. This would make it near silent. Made out of silicoln rubber or something iI could even be sold as an 'aftermarket' product that you add to the drainpipes that are troublesome.

emamum · 15-11-2007, 08:09

summat that you stick on your washing line that bleeps when its raining.... already done

oh, and a double buggy that turns into a single......

Neil · 15-11-2007, 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

My idea was to have a very coarse internal 'screw thread' running the length of the pipe so that water could only ever fall 4 or 5 inches

Try a couple of 45 bends at the top of the pipe. That should catch the dripping water and make it run down the inside wall of the pipe. Your downpipe must be absolutely vertical for that to happen. Maybe making it slightly off vertical will cure it as well.

MargaretR · 15-11-2007, 10:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Maybe making it slightly off vertical will cure it as well.

That's good 'lateral thinking'

grannyclaret · 15-11-2007, 10:23

i wish i could invent a self cleaning house......but alas

entwisi · 15-11-2007, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Try a couple of 45 bends at the top of the pipe. That should catch the dripping water and make it run down the inside wall of the pipe. Your downpipe must be absolutely vertical for that to happen. Maybe making it slightly off vertical will cure it as well.

But then it will look skew wiff and Julie will complain at me to straighten it back up

blazey · 15-11-2007, 10:55

My mum thought of a really good idea for a pie once and said she was going to have a go and see if it'd work out right, but she hasnt done it yet, though i'm still optimistic! I'll have a nag at her to see if she'll give it a go and try it out, and if it works out good, we'll copyright the recipe or whatever haha and then you can know what it is

dont think they're keen to invest in recipes/food on dragons den though as its apparently a hard business to get into, but there was a guy that pitched 'reggae reggae sauce' on their and he's doing really well now

So I guess they might take it on lol.