Hasta La Gadget!

You never know when you might need to leave a bus or a train by window. Accidents could happen. A fire could break out on board. A gun man could be threatening every passenger.

It’s often during times like this (or right after) that people would wish they had come up with something that could’ve helped the people on board out.

Designer Shi Qiang did just that with the Hammer in Hand concept design. It’s essentially a handle that doubles as a sturdy hammer that can be used to break the windows. Since it’s embedded in the hammer, people wouldn’t have to waste precious time trying to look for something they can use to to break the glass.

There would obviously be more handles than there are windows, so most passengers can grab one, break the glass, and exit the vehicle to safety.

[via Yanko Design]

Cardboard never ceases to amaze. Having been deployed in gramophones, stereos and even digital cameras, one inventor now believes it can be used to make the ideal bicycle. Izhar Gafni, from Israel, spent 18 months just folding the material every-which-way in order to discover a strong enough design, and now he claims his technique is almost ready for mass production. His maintenance-free bike uses a “secret” mix of organic materials to make it waterproof and fireproof, and is then lacquered to give it a friendlier appearance. It’s expected to cost a mere $20 and weigh about 20 lbs (9 kg) — that’s 65 percent lighter than an average metal ride. In fact, this bicycle doesn’t use any metal parts at all — the solid tires are made of reconstituted rubber and a car timing belt is used instead of a chain. It lacks the swank of a Faraday Porteur, perhaps, but then you could buy 175 of these for the same money. Want proof that it actually works? The bike’s not-so-featherweight inventor takes it for a spin after the break.

[Image credit: Reuters / Baz Ratner]

Continue reading Cardboard bicycle ‘close to mass production’: tough, green and just $20

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Cardboard bicycle ‘close to mass production’: tough, green and just $20 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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