Invention ConventionWorkshop2009

Deciding what road to travel down

Today, the term Rube Goldberg is used to signify anything done in an overly complicated or round-about manner. Resembles the Mousetrap gameApproximately 10 steps

Original idea!An invention that makes life easier.1. Recreation2. Household3. Environmental

Original InventionRube Goldberg

Rube Goldberg Rube Goldberg's cartoons are incredible displays of ingenuity, detailed logic, physics and satire. He poked fun at the many complicated inventions that were available at the beginning of the century, and at the round-about methods people devised for solving their problems.

Example of a Rube Goldberg Cartoon:How to Keep Shop Windows Clean Passing man (A) slips on banana peel (B) causing him to fall on rake (C) As handle of rake rises it throws horseshoe (D) onto rope (E) which sags, thereby tilting sprinkling can (F) Water (G) saturates mop (H)Pickle terrier (I) thinks it is raining, gets up to run into house and upsets sign (J) throwing it against non-tipping cigar ash receiver (K) which causes it to swing back and forth and swish the mop against window pane, wiping it clean. If man breaks his neck by fall move away before cop arrives.

Example of a Rube Goldberg Invention:13 Steps to Turn a Page in a Book1. Turn the handle on a toy cash register to open the drawer.2. The drawer pushes a golf ball off a platform, into a small blue funnel, and down a ramp.3. The falling golf ball pulls a string that releases the magic school bus (carrying a picture of Rube Goldberg) down a large blue ramp.4. Rube's bus hits a rubber ball on a platform, dropping the ball into a large red funnel.5. The ball lands on a mousetrap (on the orange box) and sets it off.6. The mousetrap pulls a nail from the yellow stick.7. The nail allows a weight to drop.8. The weight pulls a cardboard "cork" from an orange tube.9. This drops a ball into a cup. 10. The cup tilts a metal scale and raises a wire.11. The wire releases a ball down a red ramp.12. The ball falls into a pink paper basket.13. The basket pulls a string to turn the page of the book!

Original InventionDifferent Categories:1. Recreation2. Environmental3. Household

The Automatic Milk DispenserThe Automatic Dog Washer

Examples of Original Inventions:

Whats the Difference?Rube Goldberg: JournalDisplay BoardOfficial ApplicationMost of the time will be spent tinkering with the project and working out the kinks! (Lots of trial and error)Original Invention:JournalDisplay BoardOfficial ApplicationMost of the time will be spent on researching and making sure the idea has not been invented and field testing your idea!

Journaling

Journal/Log SuggestionsUse a spiral notebook or binder that allows you to keep up with your ideas. Make sure that you document all of your ideas! (This shows the judges you are thinking.)Make sure that you date every entry and get your parents to sign and date every entry.Use detailed drawing or pictures. (If you use photographs, make sure that you label them.)

ResearchRemember to show that you have searched, high and low to show that this is an original idea!Look in catalogs, stores, and on the Internet to see if you can find a similar invention.Ask your family members, friends, and classmates if they have ever seen anything like your invention.Document your field testing with pictures and have them complete a survey about your idea.

Board DesignsSuggestions:Use Rubber Cement!Make sure that your board is NEAT!Express your creativity!Use a variety of products for your board:computer designs, surveys photographs, samples, drawings, etc.