Mat Actuator Sliding Glass Doors

Their invention utilized a mat actuation system, which involved pressure-sensitive mats triggering the door’s opening mechanism.

In the 1960s, many stores had rubber mats in front of the sliding glass entry and exit doors. Stepping on these would activate the door causing it to slide open. These have gone away, replaced by motion sensors. I asked some millennials who had never even seen one of these gadgets.

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Eighteen-Year-Old Builds Submarine

High-school teen builds one-man submarine.

Justin Beckerman, an 18-year-old high school student from New Jersey, built and wired a fully-functional, one-man submarine. When he was younger, Beckerman began by making things out of balloons and string, but as the years went by his inventions grew in scale and complexity.

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Safety Pins

Be it known that I, WALTER HUNT, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Make or Form of Dress-Pins, of which the following is a faithful and accurate description.

A “Safety Pin” is a regular pin that includes a simple spring mechanism and a clasp. The clasp closes the loop at keeps the material being pinned from coming apart and protects the user from the sharp end.

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The Inventions and Discoveries of Benjamin Franklin

“Well done is better than well said.”

Benjamin Franklin was born on Milk Street, in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1706. His schooling ended at 10 years old and he learned by reading from then on. He worked in printing for his brother James who founded The New-England Courant, which was one of the first American newspapers when Ben was 15 years old. In about 1730 he became a Free Mason, a grandmaster in 1734, and was a Mason the rest of his life.

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The Scrambler

The Scrambler, Twist (in the UK), Twister, Cha Cha (in Australia), Sizzler, or Merry Mixer

The Scrambler introduces you to the concept of centripetal force which is the force, acting upon a body moving along a curved path, that is directed toward the center of curvature of the path and constrains the body to the path.

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Garage Door Opener

The first electric garage door opener dates back to 1926 when C.G. Johnson invented it in Hartford City, Indiana. You could open the door from a switch, either inside the garage (we still use those today) or outside, even on a post so you didn’t have to even get out of your Model T. In 1931, two teams, one in Illinois, the other in Washington State, both invented wireless garage door openers.

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Liquid Paper

What does musician Michael Nesmith, of Monkees fame have to do with correcting fluid? Well, his mother invented it! I usually just backspace and correct my typing mistake but, back in the day, there were typewriters and starting over was your only way to cleanly correct a mistaken key stroke. Even now, if something is already printed, and re-printing is not a choice, correction fluid or tape can come in very handy.

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