The weirdest patents

Patents are usually associated with brilliant ideas that change the world—but some protect inventions that are downright bizarre. From unusual clothing to wonderfully impractical gadgets, these strange patents show just how creative—and eccentric—inventors can be.

• The Umbrella Hat – One inventor patented a hat with an umbrella attached directly to it, leaving both hands free during rainy weather. It sounds ridiculous, but variations of the idea have appeared repeatedly over the years.
• The Baby Mop – A patented baby outfit included mop-like material on the knees, encouraging crawling babies to clean the floor as they moved around. Parenting and housework had officially collided.
• The Cat Translator – Inventors have patented devices designed to interpret or respond to animal sounds. The idea is fun, but accurately translating a cat's mysterious meows remains a much bigger challenge.
• The Bird Diaper – Yes, bird diapers have been patented! These tiny garments were designed to prevent pet birds from leaving droppings around the house.
• The Horse Gas Mask – During wartime, inventors created and patented protective masks designed to help horses breathe in areas contaminated by poisonous gas. It is a strange-looking reminder that animals were also exposed to the dangers of chemical warfare.
• The Anti-Eating Face Mask – One patented concept involved a mask designed to make eating more difficult. The strange invention was intended to help people control how much they ate.
• The Bacon Alarm – One patent described a device that could wake someone by releasing the smell of cooking bacon. Instead of an annoying buzzing sound, breakfast would become the alarm clock.
• The Bedside Toothpaste Dispenser – A patented invention combined toothpaste dispensing with a toothbrush holder, aiming to make brushing your teeth almost completely automatic. Convenience really can go too far.
• The Human-Powered Helicopter – Inventors have patented machines designed to let people achieve flight using their own physical effort. The catch? Human muscles are spectacularly bad at powering a conventional helicopter.
• The Wearable Sleeping Bag – A patented sleeping-bag design was created to let people stay warm while walking around. Essentially, it asked the question: why should a sleeping bag be restricted to sleeping?