Author: John Grout
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Preventing Washing Machine Hose Leaks
Substantial damage is caused when washing machine hoses burst while homeowners are away. The Saf-T-Smart valve kit detects when the washing machine is operating and opens the valves allowing water to flow freely. When the washing machine is off, the valves are closed, reducing pressure on the hoses and avoiding serious water damage (and returning…
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Never Use Cold Syrup Again!
Hungry Jack syrup has a small window near the bottom of the container that changes from black to clear when heated, revealing the word HOT. This signals that the syrup is warm and ready to serve.
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Keep the Wheelchair From Rolling Away
Correspondence from www.saferwheelchairs.com reports that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recorded 167 deaths due to wheelchair-related accidents from 1997-1999. Of these, 105 were wheelchairs rolling away from the person for one reason or another. The response? A mistake-proofing device that locks the wheelchair when no one is sitting in it. An unlocking lever on the…
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Don’t Crash the Jetbridge into the Plane
You would like to move the jetway up to the plane quickly so travel-weary passengers can get off. Your plane is worth millions of dollars. Great care should be taken. Quickness and care don’t always go together so well. The solution: build a switch into the jetway, which stops it an inch away from the…
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Don’t Leave Your Coat in the Jacket Stall
I have never hung my coat in a bathroom stall and then walked out without it. But, apparently, someone has because this stall door in the Dallas Galleria is designed so you cannot unlatch the door without moving your coat.
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A Coffee Pot That Stops Brewing when the Pot is Removed
This automatic coffee pot is equipped with a “pause and serve” feature. The lid of the pot presses up on the button (shown below), releasing a valve that allows the coffee to pour into the pot. If you remove the pot before brewing is finished, the valve closes so coffee is not spilled. (A friend…
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Rental Trucks Prevent Ramp From Sliding Out
This rental truck has a door latch which will not allow the loading ramp to slide out while the the latch is in the closed position.
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Automatic Change Makers Save Time and Prevent Mistakes
Telequip offers an automatic coin dispenser. Its selling point is that it cuts 5-7 seconds off transaction times. But it also reduces human error. Employees no longer need to count out change, and customers are not short-changed.
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Automatically Dripping Faucets to Avoid Freeze Damanage
When pipes are likely to freeze, the common practice is to open faucets slightly and let them drip. If you’re not home or just forget to leave the faucets dripping, you can cause significant damage to pipes and property. This device automatically opens a valve that discharges just enough water to avoid pipes freezing. Actuation…
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Don’t Drive Off with the Gas Pump Attached!
Gas pumps are equipped with hose couplings that break-away and quickly shut-off the flow of gasoline. Thanks to Mike Ferg for this example. The design of gas pump hoses incorporates several smart features to mitigate against the common mistake of drivers driving away with the nozzle still attached to their vehicle’s fuel tank. This scenario,…