When bad ideas turn into patents...

MorganGrayson · 10-06-2005

BERLIN (Reuters) - Fans of non-stop drinking may soon be able to cut down on time wasted ordering refills, thanks to a beer coaster that can tell when a glass is empty.

The coaster, fitted with sensors, measures the weight of the beer and sends a signal behind the bar when it's time for a refill.

Anxious drinkers can also attract the attention of staff by waving the plastic mat, thanks to a motion sensor.

It was invented by students Matthias Hahnen and Robert Doerr for a project at the University of Saarbruecken in southwest Germany.

The device has attracted the attention of beer vendors in North America, including a leading Canadian brewer, according to Michael Schmitz, one of the supervisors of the project.

"They wanted to know if they could use it or make it themselves," he said. "The prototype cost about 84 euros to make one but if mass produced, it could be done for around 10 euros."

Now, apparently, these two cheerful - and no doubt drunker then hell - college students are unaware that it is illegal in the US - don't know about Canada - to serve liquor to an "obvious" drunk. Now...the bartender gets to tell the ABC what? "The coaster made me do it?" I'll bet attorneys are just salivating over the potential lawsuits these little doohickeys will cause.

10-06-2005	#1
MorganGrayson None $100 for every ImLive sign-up Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 4,321	When bad ideas turn into patents... BERLIN (Reuters) - Fans of non-stop drinking may soon be able to cut down on time wasted ordering refills, thanks to a beer coaster that can tell when a glass is empty. The coaster, fitted with sensors, measures the weight of the beer and sends a signal behind the bar when it's time for a refill. Anxious drinkers can also attract the attention of staff by waving the plastic mat, thanks to a motion sensor. It was invented by students Matthias Hahnen and Robert Doerr for a project at the University of Saarbruecken in southwest Germany. The device has attracted the attention of beer vendors in North America, including a leading Canadian brewer, according to Michael Schmitz, one of the supervisors of the project. "They wanted to know if they could use it or make it themselves," he said. "The prototype cost about 84 euros to make one but if mass produced, it could be done for around 10 euros." Now, apparently, these two cheerful - and no doubt drunker then hell - college students are unaware that it is illegal in the US - don't know about Canada - to serve liquor to an "obvious" drunk. Now...the bartender gets to tell the ABC what? "The coaster made me do it?" I'll bet attorneys are just salivating over the potential lawsuits these little doohickeys will cause.