The Evolution of Closet Organization and Decoration

Over the years there have been many inventions that have changed how people organize and decorate their closets. Today we are going to review five of the most famous closet furniture innovations. Our hope today is to inspire a new generation of inventors. Let creativity be your guide, as you come up with new storage solutions or just improve on an old idea.

1. Modular furniture. What would a closet be without tons storage? These little cubes and cabinets are as versatile as they are easy to put together. Anything you can dream up can be easily stacked up to create useful storage space. A bonus is, that it is easy to find at your local home improvement store or discount store. Don't like the color? No problem, it is also easy to paint. Modular furniture ranges in price for super thrifty to super pricy. You are guaranteed to find just the right thing for you taste and budget. Don't be afraid to get creative with the endless options. Modular furniture is an excellent blend of form and function.

2. The padded storage benches. With the huge closets of today, nicely covered, padded storage benches fit nicely. The inside can be sectioned off to hold shoes or even stow away seasonal items that you don't want hogging up your closet space. Use a couple of space bags and you will be surprised just how much you can stash way. If you can't find a color you like, they are easily recovered. You can even do it yourself with the fabric of your choice and a staple gun.

3. The shoe tree or shoe rack. Can anyone ever have enough shoes? In any closet you will find lots and lots of shoes. So what do you do with all of those shoes? The simple solution is the shoe tree. Probably the most famous item of all most famous closet furniture, they come in all shapes and sizes. They can be expensive or very reasonable. Easily grab them at a discount store, home organization store or even make your own. There are many options for the appearance of your closets shoe tree. There are even models that hang on the back of the door with many pockets for easy viewing and selection.

4. Set of removable drawers. By including sets of drawers in your closet, you will save valuable space in your closet. This helps to keep things stowed away and out of sight. The perfect solution for the person who likes a place for everything and clutter kept out of sight.

5. The closet island. Not only does an island built right in the middle of the closet add storage space, it also gives you a raised surface to fold and organize clothing. There are many choices for the bottom portion of the island. Simple cabinets can be used to store larger items or drawer can be used to keep items sorted and grouped. It is easy to make an island to fit your needs.

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The Early History of Tires

Can you imagine what life would be like if tires were not invented? There would not be any cars, bikes, or ATV’s just to name a few items. It turns out that there over 400 tire companies in business today. These companies produce over 1 billion tires a year. Tire companies are the major consumer of natural rubber. The top 5 tire companies in business today are Bridgestone, Michelin, Goodyear, Continental, and Pirelli. These are in the order of their sales. Bridgestone has the most tire sales.

The first practical tire was made by John Boyd Dunlop in 1887. He made it for his son’s tricycle. It was the first practical pneumatic or inflatable tire ever made. He got a patent in 1888. But two years after he officially received his patent, he lost it. It turned out that Robert Thomson, a Scottish inventor had already patented the idea in 1846. But Dunlop’s tire was produced commercially in 1890. Dunlop later partnered with William Du Cross to form a company that would later become the Dunlop Rubber Company. Charles Goodyear invented vulcanized rubber in 1844. He received two patents, one for making rubber easier to work with and one for the vulcanized rubber. Vulcanized rubber would later be made into tires. Vulcanization is a process that is used to cure rubber. Charles Goodyear spent 10 years developing the process. Charles was bankrupt by the time he died. He had spent all of his money making his invention. He even spent time in jail for not paying a creditor for rubber he had purchased. He died a poor man. Forty years went by before a man named Frank Seiberling started The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company named for Charles Goodyear. He later became famous for his fair treatment of workers.

In 1845 Robert William Thomson invented the first vulcanized rubber pneumatic tire made for a car. The tire was a quality tire but it did not catch on though because it was too expensive at the time to make it. In 1895 a gentleman named Andre’ Michelin was the first person to use pneumatic tires on a car. It was not successful. A few years later in 1888 he and his brother Edouard started the Michelin Tire Company. They are still in business today.

Back in 1903, P.W. Litchfield of the Goodyear Tire Company received a patent for the first tubeless tire. It was not used commercially until the production of the 1954 Packard. Then in 1904, mountable rims were introduced. This let drivers fix their own flat tires. This was a major advancement. In 1908 Frank Seiberling of the Goodyear Rubber and Tire Company, invented and received a patent for the first all-weather tread tires. They had a diamond design that improved traction. They were the first grooved tires. Another company with a long history is BF Goodrich Tire Company. They were quick to develop their own pneumatic tire for cars in 1895. They also were able to make a longer lasting tire by adding carbon to the rubber. Because of the war natural rubber was hard to come by so in 1927 they invented the first synthetic rubber tire. In 1946 they sold their first tubeless tire.

The history of tires is still evolving today. Just a recently as 1977, Goodyear developed the first all season radial and in 2001 they made a tire made from corn by-products. Tire companies are always developing new ways to make tires safer and last longer. Used tires have been a problem for years. There have been new developments that take used tires and turn them into other products. This will keep them out of landfills. These are just some of the new ideas out there.

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The Best Selling Swimming Inventions

When it comes to swimming, many inventions have come to light to not only save lives, but enable people to swim better and more comfortably overall. What are the best-selling swimming inventions of all time? You'd be surprised the ones that top the charts, and be inspired by these crafty and successful inventions as well. You may just have one of these inventions, yourself already. After all, swimming is a sport many people enjoy, and tools to help people swim their best have been around successfully for a very long time.

Swimming as a sport goes back thousands of years, and is a classic summertime favorite today. Imagine the success of the most popular swimming invention- the classic swimming pool. The swimming pool, by modern standards anyhow, was invented in the 1800s, and by 1837 6 indoor swimming pools, complete with diving boards (another best seller) were all the rage in London. Today, a swimming pool can be found in nearly every town across the US, bringing in a multitude of dollars yearly in entertainment. Even homes and apartment complexes boast their own swimming pools, which take several thousand dollars to install. Imagine creating a swimming invention that took the world by storm like the classic swimming pool has?

An invention need not be enormous to have a monetary impact. Can you guess what the other best-selling swimming inventions are? Look no further than one you have in your own home- the life jacket. This handy life-saving device has been around since 1854, and has greatly advanced in design and capability since its timely arrival. A necessary tool for anyone around water, the life jacket (or life preserver, as it is originally called) still reigns on store shelves today.

What about the smaller inventions? Think for a moment, and try to come up with a swimming device that makes swimming much more comfortable. Do swim goggles come to mind? Such a simple concept, which the Persians invented by using tortoise shells over their eyes in water became all the rage by the 1970s. Today, swim goggles come in a variety of styles and abilities, and are a necessity to anyone who wants to protect their eyes from salt water and stinging chlorine. You probably have several pairs of swim goggles in your own home.

Now, what are best selling swimming inventions all about if the classic floating inflatable device isn't mentioned? This classic children's water toy has been making its rounds for years, and comes in a tube that goes around the waist or on the arms of small children and toddlers. Dubbed officially the 'swimming float', this invention is perhaps the most notable of them all, and it's such a simple device! However, that's just how inventions go- sometimes the best seller is the one most easily overlooked!

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The Best Selling Fishing Inventions

Fishing is a popular family and sportsman activity. Although the excitement of landing a big fish is what drives most fishing enthusiasts, the many inventions that have improved the experience have also contributed to its success as an outdoor sport activity. Whether you're fishing for food, sport or both, innovative fishing products make this outdoor activity accessible to anyone.

Fishing for food gave way to the best selling fishing inventions like the casting reel and the common rods and reels used today, but sport fishing inspired even more advanced inventions for the activity. One of the most notable of these is today's fishing lures. Among sports fisherman, lures are not only useful but also addictive. With today's scientific research in lure inventions, serious fishermen pay close attention to lure advancements.

Take the spinner bait for instance; no other lure is more commonly used in bass fishing. It's just a simple piece of wire attached to a hook with esthetically pleasing spinning blades and colorful skirts. Although its design is simple, anglers purchase these lures every year in great abundance for their fish catching abilities. Spinner baits are one of the best-selling fishing inventions ever created among synthetic lures and baits.

For serious fisherman, there is one piece of gear in particular that has defined the sport. The Bait-caster is a technological improvement that adds the power and durability of a casting reel, with easier action by means of magnetic breaking systems. Bass fishermen are particularly fond of these reels for its ability to overpower large fish with great ease. For these reasons, the bait-caster reel is one of the best-selling fishing inventions ever created.

While serious inventions rule the world of competitive sport fishing, some of the best-selling fishing inventions are designed for novice fisherman and family fun. Compact rod and reel combos like the pocket fisherman and others continue to sell very well among fishing beginners. Compact rod and reel combos come in fixed sizes as well as telescoping models that extend into full size fishing rods.

Fishing products have also been developed to cater to the family recreational aspect of the sport. A newcomer to popular fishing inventions, the remote controlled fishing boat has quickly become a source of family fun at the lake. It is essentially an RC boat with a line and hook attached. Several models are available that provide power to catch fish of different sizes. For kids and adults, fishing with a remote control can be quite exciting. In addition to fun, RC fishing can provide a way for many disabled people to enjoy the activity of fishing.

Outdoor activities that we once did for survival have become sporting and recreational fun today. Like many other outdoor activities, fishing has become a sport largely due to and advancements of products created for it. Without the great variety of fishing inventions available, fishing itself would surely not be as popular as it is today. 

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What people want in a Cooking Product

Even more important than the master bedroom or the great room, the kitchen is the number one room that consumers take into account when purchasing a home. If a home buying decision can hinge on the features offered in the kitchen, it’s no surprise that consumers are just as critical when it comes to choosing kitchen products and appliances. In order to successfully create and market a kitchen product, it’s important to know what consumers often look for when purchasing these products.

Eco-Friendly
In this day and age, sustainability is a much bigger issue than it has ever been. More and more people are trying to do their part to lessen their impact on the environment without affecting their daily routine. Products that boast easy recycling, eco-friendly materials and energy efficiency are in high demand. If your product can help consumers make a change for the better while reducing waste or energy consumption, you’ll be one step ahead of the rest.

Space Saving
More often than not, a family will have more kitchen “stuff” than kitchen space. Whether your product requires countertop or storage space, kitchen space is a hot commodity. In order for your product to make a big splash, you’ll need to have a space-friendly design. Smaller is better. If your product simply cannot function within a small design, features such as simple and easy storage options will increase your marketing capabilities.

Tech-Friendly
With all the available technological possibilities, consumers are looking for the most up-to-date products and appliances. This goes for the kitchen as well. No matter how simple your idea or design, implementing technological capabilities will push your product ahead of the rest. Tech-friendly products and stream-lined designs are important when connecting to the new generation of consumers.

Convenient
The days of the stay-at-home mom are quickly receding. More and more households are headed by two full-time working parents. Often, time saving food preparation is a priority and kitchen products that help facilitate this are in high demand. If your product makes meal preparation or kitchen clean up easier, there’s a good chance that it will succeed.

Good Value
While consumers are particular about the products they use in their kitchens, they are also always looking for a good value. Not only do they want to feel like they are getting a good price, but they also need to feel like the product is worth what they’re paying for it. Offering a top-of-the-line product that only carries a big ticket price will limit your market. If your product is a bit pricey, try offering a budget version as well. Your consumers all have varying incomes and the amount of money they are willing to spend on a kitchen product will vary as well. To some, the price is more important than the quality.

The number one goal for any inventor is to offer a product that people need or want to buy. The more you appeal to their wants, the easier it is to make them feel as if they need your product. By offering an eco- and tech- friendly product that uses limited space and makes food preparation more convenient, at a fair price, you will most certainly catch the eye of the consumers in your market.

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