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Duct Tape Goes Minature
metal_llama writes "There is a story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about a man, Christopher Blummel, who "has a vision for a better world - one where every man would carry in his wallet a small cellophane packet containing a product that can come in handy in an emergency. Duct tape." This is exactly what I've always wanted: an ever-handy supply of duct tape."
Of course, provided he wasn't granted a patent for it, 3-rd parties should be imitating it in no time, and selling it for a fraction of the cost.
From the article: "Biggest risk factor: Imitators. Patent pending now with U.S. Patent Office."
This cannot seriously get a patent. I mean, a small role of duct tape is that fricken innovative??? Props for being first to market, but we've got small tape and we've got big duct tape, so this is hardly the work of genius.
Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
No it's not. He'll get the patent. Nobody doesn't get a patent. "Patent pending" just means "waiting for the rubber stamp." As long as you pay the filing fee, you'll get the patent. Even if it an unpatentable type of creation, even if it's already been done, even if it's already been patented, and even if it violates the laws of thermodynamics. The patent office will take the money, hand out a patent, and let the federal courts handle the lawsuits that result. If a court throws out a patent, the patent office doesn't have to give the money back. Everyone wins except those not in the government.
Stupid people make stupid things profitable.
If anyone claims a patent on this, I've got witnesses that I've been doing this for years.
Sig:Why copyright isn't a fundamental human right
Handyman my ass! You guys that know nothing but duct tape and WD40 aren't handymen. You are the Tim Allens, the ones who get laughed at by people that know what they are doing.
You are one step up from women, who see a wing-nut lying next to a un-adorned bolt, and have the natural reaction of throwing the wing-nut away, and forgetting about it completely...
And the worst thing is, people like me are the ones who end up having to do more work to repair that damage caused when you "fixed" it.
You wouldn't believe the damage I've seen done by people duct-taping some heavy-duty components together, rather than spending 2 minutes, and putting in a bolt when it's needed. Or even worse, all the motors, bearings, and other moving parts that have been worn down to nothing because a so-called "handy-man" didn't think to grease the part, instead, they just put WD-40 on it when it started squeaking. Sure, it was being burned up, but it wasn't making any noise, so they didn't care, that is, until it really breaks down, for good.
However, I will say that duct tape and WD-40 have their places. Even though people misuse them and cause even more problems, they are very good tools when used correctly.
Oh yeah, and you know what WD-40's #1 use is? You use it to remove the duct tape some "handy-man" put on. One spray of WD and the glue just falls apart.
This rant isn't directed at you, per se. For all I know you know what you are doing, and were just making a joke, but I've just seen so many "handy-men" that this post really got under my skin, anyhow.
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Tell that to the Apollo 13 astronauts who used duct tape to rig up a CO2 filtering system. Certainly, it could've worked much better if they'd taken the time to properly design a more elegant solution using different materials. But sometimes you just need something that works "good enough" and RIGHT NOW.
Yes, duct tape is a cludge. In fact, it generally fits into the "it's not pretty but it works" category of quick fixes. If it can be used immediately to save you from certain doom (or perhaps just getting stuck somewhere) then who cares about the white residue?
If you anticipate needing a universal quick-fix for an emergency, which would you rather carry with you at all times:
1) spools of wire in various guages, wire cutters, various glues/epoxies (for porous and non-porous surfaces, because you never know), rivets, rivet gun, assorted nails, and a hammer
2) a roll of duct tape
But the best uses for duct tape are the ones you don't even think of until the need arises. I had no idea duct tape could be used to temporarily patch a leaky coolant hose until I tried it. It was enough to let me drive the car home instead of tow it, at which point I was able to fix it properly.
-CausticPuppy "Of all the people I know, you're certainly one of them." -Somebody I don't know
I wouldn't mind having a wallet-sized strip of duct tape
But i'd save it for events when i can't bring my Backpack, which has the full roll in it.
No, duct tape is not suitable for every job. However, I'm in Boston and was there for the fireworks last night with 2 plastic chairs, 2 ordinary (small) umbrellas, one roll of duct tape, and a 6'x4' piece of cloth, and we were one of the only groups not getting torched by the sun as we staked out our spot on the esplanade. And A lot of people had duct tape envy, but we're nice, and we share. The glue rubbed right off the metal and plastic surfaces.
There are, as noted in other posts, a LOT of places not to use duct tape, and one of them is any situation involving heat. Or ducts, for that matter. But another is any place that you need a real, permanent solution. (stress on the word need. If you need a permanent fix on something in the home, fix it right the first time. But the best use i've recommended it for on a short term basis is rodent control- in the sense that is someone before you got to the building left gaping holes next to the pipes, cover them with duct tape until i can get to them. We have well-sealed hardwood floors, the glue will come off when we're done, and i can't be everywhere at once. If they can't find a way in- and the least folks can do is close off the obvious- i buy time to get to the store and get supplies.
(and for that crack about women and wingnuts, well, may you end up making a comment like that at 4 in the morning by the side of the road when a female mechanic is your only hope... )
"I'd say 'Have a good time,' but arson is still illegal.
Coghlan's, a Canadian camping supply company, has been including a 12 inch folded strip of duct tape on a removable backing in their Survival Kit in a Can since before he applied for his patent.
I tend to have a roll of duct tape handy where ever I am. I have a roll that I generally keep in my truck, and often in my backpack. If I go camping, I might as well bring a roll or bring no tape at all. If I'm anywhere else (ie: the city), I couldn't imagine being more than 5 minutes from a roll of tape - because I've got a roll at home, in my truck, or in my backpack (which comes everywhere with me.) Except maybe an airplane... I was going through security once, and they wouldn't let me take my roll on the plane - it can be used as a restraining device. I asked them if they wanted my shoe laces too.
"...a radiator leak on Highway 80 heading out to Moline..."
He should have a roll of tape in his trunk to begin with.
"...presentations where I needed to put something on a wall."
Briefcase or backpack. A roll of tape is just another piece of equipment you should be toting around with the rest of your presentation materials and hardware.
Really, for the price, it's a waste of money. If you really want to carry miniscule amounts of tape around then buy a roll and put a few strips on some wax paper.
-kidlinux.
When watching the Indy 500, I saw pit crews sealing up the (bent) cars with "200 mph racers tape".
Now what NASA needs is 600+ mph racers tape, for the shuttles.
No, the indispensible tool you are wanting there is gaffer's tape.
Gaffer's tape tends to be black or at least matt finish so it doesn't reflect light, it's rough so you don't slip on it when it's on the floor; the glue is much less likely to leave a residue when you remove the tape, gaffer's tape tends to be easier to tear from the roll without a cutting impliment, and gaffer's tape is more tolerant of high temperatures (such as under hot stage lights).
While sold in the same width as standard duct tape and it also has strings in it, gaffer's tape is a different beast from duct tape.
Article X: The powers not delegated... by the Constitution...are reserved...to the people
When I saw Macguyver use duct tapes to fix things and tie bad guys' hands, I said, "hey, that's pretty useful." Throughout jr. high and high school, I carried duct tape wrapped around a poker card in my wallet. And I used it, too, and had to refill now and then, and the pesky part was trying to figure out whether I wanted to empty out the card before refilling or just refill right over it. I can't believe some guy is gonna get a patent for commercializing such a simple idea.