5 Weird Inventions That Never Made The Cut

Here at Ideanote, we encourage new ideas, because you never know how big they can get. But sometimes, in the search for the next great idea, you end up with an invention that is just… weird.

We have collected a number of such inventions. The intentions were good, but none of these ideas really made the cut. Why? Check them out yourself:

Weird inventions #1: LED slippers

Remember all those times when you went up for a glass of water in the middle of the night, too tired to turn the lights on, and then proceeded to crash your toe into the counter corner in the dark? The pain was numbing and you thought that nothing worse could ever happen to you. Well, you are not alone. There was a person who got so tired of it that the LED slippers came to life.

How do LED slippers work? Simple: When getting up during the night, put the slippers on and enjoy its benefits. The slippers automatically light your way and no corner will surprise you in the dark. You are free to walk, move and live. The light turns on by pressing the switch with your toes.

LED slippers can still be found on several online shops but the idea never really became a successful business.

Weird inventions #2: The Rolling Bench

Sitting on a wet bench is a bummer. People often get out of their offices to enjoy a breath of fresh air during lunch time, but apparently, rain ruined that experience for South Korean designer Sung Woo Park one too many times. Therefore, he invented The Rolling Bench.

The Rolling Bench is composed of several rotating wooden slats. When one side of the bench is too wet, a handle on the side cranks up more wooden slats from underneath. The user can now sit on the dry side of the bench shortly after it has rained. What a wonderful and weird invention.

Weird inventions #3: Fliz

Fliz is a foot powered bike invented in Germany by two designers, Tom Hambrock and Juri Spetter. To “ride” the Fliz you don’t need pedals, gears or a saddle. Instead, to get the bicycle moving, you would have to run. Besides that, the whole upper body is suspended in the air by a harness. After hitting the correct speed, you can rest your feet on the back wheel and use the handlebars to steer. The reason for creating Fliz was to bring a completely new driving experience to the market. Its innovative frame provides a mix between running and biking. The frame integrates the rider and due to its construction, it works both like a suspension and like a top carrier. This is a sustainable concept made for use in overcrowded urban spaces.

Weird inventions #4: Metal detector sandals

Both practical and comfortable, metal detector sandals allow you to find buried treasures while strolling the beach. There is a copper coil in the sandal and it is powered by a battery pack around your calf. Thanks to beat frequency oscillation technology, the ring creates a magnetic field. When a metal object appears under your foot, it distorts the field. The battery pack alerts you about the presence of metal in three ways: By a flashing red light, a gentle vibration or audible buss. The sandals are powered by a single 9V battery, which lasts up to six hours. There are many inventions out there to help you detect metal, if that is what you are in to, but unfortunately, these sandals never really got a breakthrough. Which is a shame, as they would probably look great with white tennis socks.

Weird inventions #5 :PAO Facial Fitness

You have heard of Zumba, TRX and Kickbox, but have you heard of PAO Facial Fitness? Probably not (and we don’t blame you). Made in Japan, PAO Facial Fitness is made to keep your face young by training your muscles against sagging, wrinkles and smile lines. The inventors of PAO Facial Fitness compare it to dancing – it is a rhythmical exercise, fun for all.

It is said there are approximately 40 muscles in the face and around 70% are not used in our day-to-day life. Muscles that are not being used get weak and can become saggy, especially the ones in the lower face. That can leave signs of aging, which, as you know, is about the worst thing that can happen to you in this day and age. Even worse than bumping your toe into the counter when going to get a glass of water in the night.

Based on a study published by PAO Facial Fitness, 94% of their users have experienced the effects of continued PAO use. This might mean that the good days are ahead and this product might just become the next big thing.

What do you think?

Final thoughts

When it comes to ideas and inventions, the line between laughable and genius is thin. Many weird inventions have actually made it big while some clever ideas never catched up, instead leaving their inventors with empty pockets and shattered dreams. Silly as they may seem, there is true potential in all five inventions mentioned above, and they may have been closer to success than you would think. The point is that every new idea has potential to become the idea. Therefore, it is important to say that one must try in order to succeed. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and all that.

That is exactly what Kodak did, unfortunately. Back in 1989, engineers working for Kodak built the first DSLR camera. However, the man in charge of the company panicked, as he was afraid to go all the way, and couldn’t see the value in that first mover advantage. He thought bringing the camera to the marketplace would lower film sales and even undermine Kodak’s business. Kodak filed for bankruptcy in 2012. The same year, sales for the world’s four major camera companies topped 31.6 billion dollars. Innovation is all about taking chances and Kodak was too afraid to do so…

Executives often shoot down creative ideas that could help companies grow in a new direction. We can learn from Kodak’s case but we can also learn from the inventions that never made it at all. Their inventors tried to make a difference, and even though these innovations didn’t make it big, they were genuine attempts to solve genuine problems. And hey, they made us smile as well.

At Ideanote we value every idea and we encourage innovation. We also want to inspire you by sharing them, so if you haven’t already, make sure to read about Elon Musk’s 5 great ideas and Ideas that changed the world.