It is said that “Necessity is the Mother of Invention”.
Well, if it’s not the mother, then at least it’s a good boost or motivation. Not long ago, I broke my ankle – two fractures, plus a “crush wound”. What that really means is a pair of crutches, pain, and a slow recovery. It also means that I’ve been modifying my environment MORE than I usually would.
It’s so easy to take things for granted – even something as common as two working arms and legs. Unfortunately, the use of crutches means both hands are occupied, just to get around. So, it’s not even possible for me to walk from my kitchen, down the hall, to my home office. Of course no coffee is NOT an option, so it’s time for invention!
A simple 99 cent car cup holder is easily modified to become a crutch cup holder. Just cut the “hook” off the cup-holder, drill a hole through it, remove the wing-nut from the crutch handle, put the cup-holder on the crutch, and then put the wing-nut back on. Poof! My travel coffee mug is spill-proof and can now be carried around the house – hands-free!
In other hands-free inventions…..
GOOD beer requires a bottle opener. (I have yet to find good beer that comes in a can or with a twist-off top!) I have a good bottle opener in our kitchen drawer, but that takes two hands (one for the opener, one for the beer.) I also have a mounted bottle opener, but that requires the other hand to catch the removed cap! Letting it fall on the floor isn’t an option, considering how hard it is to bend over and pick something up!
So here’s how I modified my bottle opener. I just stuck on a very small magnet to the bottom of the opener. The cap pops off the bottle, and then sticks to the magnet. I can then set down the bottle, open the garbage can (OK, recycling bin), and throw away the cap.
Small magnet is on the bottom mounting screw.
Cap hangs on, instead of falling on floor.
When things can be just that much more difficult due to some sort of temporary disability, it’s nice to have a few little inventions helping me out!