A man has invented a plug outlet cover that stops other people taking your charger, and people are ready to hand their money over right now.
Matt Benedetto from Vermont regularly makes and shares his "unnecessary inventions" online, making products that no one asked for, but entertain nonetheless.
In his latest endeavour, he vowed to fight the problem anyone who lives with people will know—finding your charger has been taken.
The Cable Clamp Cover replaces the existing outlet cover on your wall, but the locking technology means the charger can't be taken out of the wall without a screwdriver. The charger cable is fed through the new cover and the charging brick slips right into it. The cover is then screwed into the wall, essentially trapping the charger inside, meaning housemates can't take it for themselves.
"Finally have the piece of mind knowing that absolutely no one will ever be able to steal your charging brick ever again," reads the advert.
Benedetto shared the invention to Reddit's "Funny" Subreddit and gained over 59,000 votes in just 15 hours, but many saw a less comedic side to it all, wanting to actually purchase one
"Have you met my kids? I'll take your entire stock," wrote one Reddit user.
"This is actually genius," wrote another.
Others, however, were quick to point out one flaw in the design—the fire hazard of the charger overheating. But flaws like that are exactly why Benedetto's products aren't for sale, and instead just prototypes posted online.
For the most part, Benedetto doesn't sell his products, other than a select few, but his inventions certainly still garner attention online. The inventor creates joke products which are, as his brand name would suggest, completely unnecessary.
His over 270 products span from those past the point of ridiculous, like a fur roller for convincing people you have a dog and a phone holder for watching TV while you run, to those actually somewhat useful—a protective cover for gaming controllers when rage throwing it and a bowl which stops cereal getting soggy.
Benedetto designs and 3D models all of his own inventions, before being editorially shot in a studio as if it was real, followed by a social media post which often goes viral.
"I also fan-submit new ideas on Instagram as well, so every few inventions are created from a fan submission when it is just too good not to make. The AirSticks (chopsticks that hold AirPods) are one of my favourites as it's what kicked off the entire project to explore a different side of creativity," he explained to Metro.
"I want my inventions to balance between 'wow that is so stupid' and 'but wait I kind of want it.' Just because it is unnecessary doesn't mean it can't be potentially useful," Benedetto told Forbes. "With all my unnecessary inventions, it is a very quick time frame from having the idea, sketching it out on paper, turning that sketch into a 3D model, and sending it off to my 3D printer."
Newsweek contacted Matt Benedetto for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
