to patent an invention or

to patent an invention or
The patent office is full of documents show that the bizarre contraptions were Mad Professors and inventors bedroom - but the vast majority of them not even the prototype stage, let alone reach the mass market - and for good reason.

Inventors are so worried that someone else copy their creation and then reap the fruits that they pretty much patent anything, for fear of the potential loss of millions, and as a result there are some very strange that we patented inventions.

Take the 'Burp Gas Filtering and deodorizing device, a pen size of invention, through which the user burps, BURP, and the gas is then de-odorised over a charcoal filter to eliminate any unpleasant moments at the table. Needless to say - the inventor of the device is still waiting for a production itself.

Or how about the 'Hijacker Injector' invention of the modern fight against terrorist threat? The concept is that each passenger seat on the plane would be with "passenger disable device" that is in and under the seat. The deactivation device consists of a seat belt buckle lock (with the alleged kidnappers in the town - as long as they wear their seat belts) syringe and needle injection device, "immediately or kill the passenger." This would be remotely operated by the pilot or a crew member. Although we are seeing more advanced passenger seats with the addition of TV-on-demand, interactive games and built-in cell phones, we are yet to see the lethal injection as an add-on standard - and let's hope he stays that way.

If you have a problem with bird droppings, then maybe the "Sanitary Appliance for Birds', could be the answer. Patented in 1959 this bird flu at a bird diaper on a leather belt, which probably will be emptied at regular intervals and then replaced. The target audience for this product has never been clear, a pet budgie? Or maybe a battery hen or wild pigeon? The fact that bird still raining from the sky suggests that this item never in production.

Entrepreneurial spirit and inventiveness are encouraged by most governments around the world - after all, successful ideas lead to the creation of jobs, wealth and prestige, and this means that for the foreseeable future at least, creative minds in the United Kingdom (from bedroom in Birmingham, to service offices in London and desks in Durham) is alive with the sound of inventors brainstorming ideas for the next big thing.

Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is an avid rugby player and enjoys traveling.