Bright Idea of The Day: Tangle-Proof Ziploc Earbuds
11:15 am, August 24th, 2009, Jonny Evans
Design student Lee Washington wants to make earbuds tangle proof by zippong them together like the seal of a sandwich bag.
Here’s a great idea for making tangle-proof earbuds. It’s so simple, I’m surprised no one has thought of it before.
To prevent your earbud wires from tangling when not in use, join them together using a Ziploc-like zipper.
By pinching the two wires together into a single wire, they become tangle-proof, like a piece of thick, rubbery string. The two wires are simply unzipped when you want to use them.
The idea was dreamed up by London design student Lee Washington, who has made a short video to demonstrate them in action — see below.
“The prototype was made very basically with a sandwich bag seal,” says Washington. “It was just designed to demonstrate the concept.”
As yet, Washington doesn’t have a manufacturer. He’s talking to his professors this week about patenting the idea. He now regrets making the video, which is fast becoming popular. He’s afraid his idea will be ripped off.
“This could go either way,” he says. “Either the video will get very popular and someone at Apple will eventually see it or someone will do the idea themselves. That would be a pity.”
Indeed. We wish Washington the best finding someone to market his brilliantly simple idea.
Posted by Jonny Evans in Hardware, News, iPod Accessories | Comment on this article
I hope he can get some money out of this. Otherwise, it would be really sweet if Apple would incorporate the idea. Their new in-ear headphones have a little plastic bit that can be used to tidy the cables, but this idea is far better.
Daniel, on August 24th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Brilliant idea. But now it is too late to file a patent application. Here is an advice for all inventors. First file the patent application. Then only publish your idea on the net. Not because somebody could steal your idea, but simply because your publication on the net will be used as prior art against your patent application during the examination process.
Steve, on August 24th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Hmmm, that’s as old as iPod shuffle – or maybe even older. The original Apple earbuds use that…
Davor Pasaric, on August 24th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
So where can i buy a pair
Core, on August 24th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
too bad…cuz that could have made him a mint…
now he will remain poor and depressed for the rest of his life…very sad story for such a cutie..
oh well good luck next time…I’m sure your posting this story has caused someone to steal the idea
Alexis, on August 24th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
[...] Bright Idea of The Day: Tangle-Proof Ziploc Earbuds | Cult of Mac http://www.cultofmac.com/bright-idea-of-the-day-tangle-proof-ziploc-earbuds/ – view page – cached Design student Lee Washington wants to make earbuds tangle proof by zippong them together like the seal of a sandwich bag. — From the page [...]
Twitter Trackbacks for Bright Idea of The Day: Tangle-Proof Ziploc Earbuds | Cult of Mac [cultofmac.com] on Topsy.com, on August 25th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
The new headphones (at least the ones that came with my 3G S are already tangle-resistant. They seem to be made of a new material that is more elastic. I have crumbled them up in my pocket many a time and they have yet to tangle like my old 1st gen/iPod buds.
Louis, on August 25th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Wow !!!! Brillant idea!!!!!
This must be a success story.
CKFD, on August 26th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Hi all
Imagine my surprise to find I’d written a report for Cult of Mac! Not that I haven’t done in the past, but I didn’t write this one. And not that I wouldn’t, as I’m an impecunious freelancer seeking a fee, but the author here was someone else, not me, jonny evans, but some other bloke,
Anyhoo, hope all the CoM readers and writers are doing OK. Hello Leander
All best
Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans, on August 26th, 2009 at 2:13 am
That guy is a genius, for being such a moron.
Michael Underwood, on August 26th, 2009 at 10:23 am
*You are an idiot, Lee.*
Where were your “professors” to help you to avoid screwing yourself out of a European / Japanese / rest of non-USA world patent? For God’s sake you live in Europe!!@$#!@$ Have you as a design student ZERO clue as to the IP law in your own country?
Your market just went from 6+ billion to ~350M: pity.
Adam Rentshler, on August 26th, 2009 at 11:12 pm