Makin' Bacon
The imagination of a kid can be pretty big. Sometimes a better way of doing things is more easily spotted from their fresh eyes. Here are 10 examples of great inventions made by kids.
First up is the Makin' Bacon tray. Abbey Fleck was just 8 when she realized that a better, healthier way of cooking bacon was by letting the bacon cook while a tray underneath collected the grease. Working with her father, Abbey created and patented a microwave safe device that became a huge hit.
Man Can
Scented candles are nothing new but at 13, Hart Main decided that there was a market for more masculine scented versions. Man Can was born with just $100 bucks. These candles are made with real soup cans purchased locally with its contents donated to area soup kitchens.
Water Talkie
When Richie Stachowski was only 11, he invented a way people to talk to each other while underwater. Using his own money, Richie built a prototype and pitched it to Toys R Us. The company ordered 50,000 units and the product took off.
Trampoline
At 16, George Nissen invented the trampoline with stretched canvas and a pile of materials he took from the local junk yard. He continued to refine the design with the help of his gymnastics coach, Larry Griswold. They began using nylon instead and the was trampoline invented. This fun toy is now a staple of suburban neighborhoods everywhere.
KidKare Ride On Car
When Spencer Whale was 6 years old, he observed children struggling to play while connected to life-saving equipment at a children's hospital. He went home and designed a toy car that incorporated an IV pole so the children would be able to play and get the medicine they needed. Across the country, many children's hospitals use his KidKare cars and trucks.
Braille
Louis Braille came up with a system that would allow blind people to read when he was just a teen in the 1800s. At the time, he was studying in Paris at The National Institute for Blind Youth when he came up with what we now know as Braille. This system is now used all over the world.
Wristies
Kathryn Gregory was only 10 years old when she came up with idea for Wristies. At the time, she was outside building a snow fort when her wrists began hurting due to the cold weather. The fingerless wrist glove was born and now, at 28, she is president of the Maine based company.
Popsicle
The popsicle was an accident by 11-year-old Frank Epperson in 1905. One cold night, Epperson left powdered soda, water and a stick outdoors. He awoke the next day and the popsicle was born. Now, hundreds of thousands of these delicious accidents are sold and enjoyed every year.
Early TV Tech
Over the years, many inventors came up with the technology that made the television a household item. At 15, Philo T. Farnsworth had numerous sketches and designs for the television. Many of his designs were used. By the time he passed away, over 100 components he held patents for were in the average TV.
Ear Muffs
Chester Greenwood came up with the idea for ear muffs while ice skating in his home state of Maine. With a 2-wire band, he asked his grandmother to sew some fur lining to cover his ears. The invention is now widely used during winters the world over. Maine is proud of him, too, so each year they celebrate Chester Greenwood Day.
