Patently Absurd: The Most Ridiculous Devices Ever Invented

Patently Absurd explores the funnier side of our inventive spirit by featuring actual patented products that have to be seen to be believed. The book features such inventions as "an animal powered drive," where an animal is used to move a belt and power a vehicle and a bird diaper to keep those pet birds clean. Gloves for couples who wish to hold hands in cold weather is the outcome of another patented idea, an improvement on ordinary gloves that are "unsatisfactory and indeed unromantic," where two hands can be inserted in one glove. An introduction outlines the background to patenting an invention and its history. Inventions are taken from patent offices internationally and are grouped in sections covering sport and exercise, household, animals, transport, clothing, and leisure.

Christopher Cooper is a writer and editor based in Kempston, Bedfordshire, with over fifteen years of experience. He specializes in the physical sciences and is the author of twelve books, including How Everyday Things Work and Science Answers.