Consumer Products Category Winner, "Create the Future" 2007 Design Contest

Tuesday, April 01 2008

Honorable Mentions

Telescoping Power Strip

Jake Zien

Carnegie Mellon University

Milwaukee, WI

Each outlet on the Telescoping Power Strip is contained within its own pod, and these are connected by an inch of rigid tubing, which can be slid into each pod. This creates a telescoping power strip that can be collapsed to the normal size with each pod touching or extended in sections to 20", enabling all outlets to be used. It can be rotated about its plug to each of the four compass points, so that when it is on the wall, it does not block off the standard two-outlet plate’s other port. Finally, the strip’s “switch” does not press, but slides, and sits flush on the plug.

Energy-Saving Kettle

Andrew Blee

Rugby, Great Britain

The Energy-Saving Kettle allows the consumer to get the right volume of water simply by selecting where the kettle is held. It consists only of an extended handle with tactile marks alongside the inside of the handle. The marks correspond to 1 cup, 2 cups, 3 cups, etc. By supporting the kettle at each mark, the user’s index finger acts as a pivot (fulcrum) for the rotation of the kettle and therefore, the volume of water it can hold is defined before the excess is shed through the spout. The invention has particular value for blind or elderly people who cannot use a measuring gauge. There are no additional moving parts.

For more information, visit www.energysavingkettle.com.

Machinery & Equipment Category Winner, "Create the Future" 2007 Design Contest