When bad ideas turn into patents...

[MorganGrayson]

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.

[ReighlynnRaine]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

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.

Some people just have to much free time on thier hands to come up with shit like this.

[PornoDoggy]

Knowing when your beer is getting low is the responsibility of the serving wench.

[Dravyk]

I see a bunch of non-pubcrawlers posting in this thread.

So to explain ... you have noooo idea how difficult it is to get a drink at a bar sometimes. Make that often!

At a busy bar, you're fighting for attention. And a bar that's slow or normal pace, the bartender is either talking to someone at the other end or watching the game on TV.

I can tell these two lads came up with an ingenius invention to help fix that.

Hell, in my younger days my friends and I had a running joke that we should all bring toasters with us out drinking ... to launch at the bartenders when we were ready to have another.

[pushpills]

Originally Posted by Dravyk

I see a bunch of non-pubcrawlers posting in this thread.

So to explain ... you have noooo idea how difficult it is to get a drink at a bar sometimes. Make that often!

At a busy bar, you're fighting for attention. And a bar that's slow or normal pace, the bartender is either talking to someone at the other end or watching the game on TV.

I can tell these two lads came up with an ingenius invention to help fix that.

Hell, in my younger days my friends and I had a running joke that we should all bring toasters with us out drinking ... to launch at the bartenders when we were ready to have another.

yea it's not such a bad idea, i go to alot of really crowded bars. i just make sure to tip big.

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by PornoDoggy

Knowing when your beer is getting low is the responsibility of the serving wench.

You just *had* to get that word into a thread today, didn't you, PD?

Dravyk, pushpills...so now a little light goes off that gets to be ignored? I think you're actually better off with the thrown toaster idea. If you're sober enough to wing the bartender with a thrown object...you're sober enough for another beer.

[Dravyk]

Originally Posted by pushpills

yea it's not such a bad idea, i go to alot of really crowded bars. i just make sure to tip big.

Same here, Push. I believe in the same philosophy as the Steve Martin character in "My Blue Heaven". Overtipping!

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by Dravyk

So to explain ... you have noooo idea how difficult it is to get a drink at a bar sometimes. Make that often!

Only for a balding 40 something guy


(Me, I just threaten them all with my walker)

[Dravyk]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

You just *had* to get that word into a thread today, didn't you, PD?

Dravyk, pushpills...so now a little light goes off that gets to be ignored? I think you're actually better off with the thrown toaster idea. If you're sober enough to wing the bartender with a thrown object...you're sober enough for another beer.

Agreed on the toaster!

It took many a drink filled night to come up with that. We talked about ...

- bowling balls (to heavy to carry to the bar, too heavy to throw, hurting the bartender? naw, that was fine, but it might hit a full row of bottles! couldn't have that.

- yoyos (string too short)

- anvils (only works on cartoons)

- cream pies (guy has to pour, so we figured he'll need to see, not to mention the urge to throw them at people on the way to the bar would be too compelling)

... you get the idea. Toasters were light, make a great BONG sound when hit on the side of the head, you can get some Xena action going with the cord if you want ...

[Dravyk]

Originally Posted by sarettah

Only for a balding 40 something guy

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by Dravyk

Agreed on the toaster!

It took many a drink filled night to come up with that. We talked about ...

- bowling balls (to heavy to carry to the bar, too heavy to throw, hurting the bartender? naw, that was fine, but it might hit a full row of bottles! couldn't have that.

- yoyos (string too short)

- anvils (only works on cartoons)

- cream pies (guy has to pour, so we figured he'll need to see, not to mention the urge to throw them at people on the way to the bar would be too compelling)

... you get the idea. Toasters were light, make a great BONG sound when hit on the side of the head, you can get some Xena action going with the cord if you want ...

I'm actually impressed with the amount of analytical thought that went into that!!!

[Dravyk]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

I'm actually impressed with the amount of analytical thought that went into that!!!

You should have seen the empty pitchers that went into that!

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by Dravyk

You should have seen the empty pitchers that went into that!

I have the feeling *those* would have impressed me as well...more of a horrified reaction, actually.

[selena]

As a ex 'tender of many years, I have to tell you that any beer goddess worth her salt is going to offer you a new drink when you get down to about the inch mark.

She will also make constant visual sweeps of the bar, and not only will have an eagle eye for all movements that indicate reaching for the wallet, she will have her ear finely tuned for the sound of two bills rubbing together.

[Dravyk]

Originally Posted by selena

As a ex 'tender of many years, I have to tell you that any beer goddess worth her salt is going to offer you a new drink when you get down to about the inch mark.

She will also make constant visual sweeps of the bar, and not only will have an eagle eye for all movements that indicate reaching for the wallet, she will have her ear finely tuned for the sound of two bills rubbing together.

Hmm. Maybe I'll hire you as my own private 'tender.


I sit down at a bar. Guy behind the counter asks "Want a drink?"

"Nope, sorry. I brought my own." I reply.

You nudge him out of the way and ask "Want a drink?"


Ah, one can have one's fantasy's now.

[nlphoto]

Originally Posted by PornoDoggy

Knowing when your beer is getting low is the responsibility of the serving wench.

Any real man will have his bed wench in the bar with him, primarily for the purpose of
keeping the serving wench in line...

[PornoDoggy]

Oh, wow.

Bed wench?

Morgan's not gonna like that ...

[PornoDoggy]

Besides ... taking your bed wench to the bar could cause the socially embarrassing introduction of your bed wench and your bar wench.

[pushpills]

Originally Posted by PornoDoggy

Besides ... taking your bed wench to the bar could cause the socially embarssing introduction of your bed wench and your bar wench.

not like you ever got both.

[PornoDoggy]

Dude, I'm still trying to figure out whether my wife stole my girlfriend or my girlfriend stole my wife.

25 years later, the wenches still won't tell me.

[pushpills]

Originally Posted by PornoDoggy

Dude, I'm still trying to figure out whether my wife stole my girlfriend or my girlfriend stole my wife.

25 years later, the wenches still won't tell me.

no surprise you'd turn girls into lesbians.

[PornoDoggy]

Hahahahaha ... should'a known there was something odd about a wife who would point out a pretty girl for me as she walked into a bar.

[pushpills]

Originally Posted by PornoDoggy

Hahahahaha ... should'a known there was something odd about a wife who would point out a pretty girl for me as she walked into a bar.

basically.....you're no good in the sack. 9/10 of my gf's have come back for sex afterwards.....yours leave for the opposite sex.

[PornoDoggy]

Is that all you got? Come back when you reach puberty, would you?

I mean, come on, kid ... I split up with those two before you were born. It's not like there haven't plenty of satisfied customers both before and after; and the reasons they stayed together as a couple for 25 years (they just broke up at the end of this summer) had little or nothing to do with me.

I am not the first person to have somebody decide to come out of the closet on them after five years of marriage. I'm not even the first person to decide to try and keep it together the way that I did.

And really ... they became lesbians because of bad sex with me? Do me a favor, would you? The next time you see an obvious bull dyke, walk up to her and ask her if she's gay because of a bad sexual experience with a man.

[pushpills]

Originally Posted by PornoDoggy

The next time you see an obvious bull dyke, walk up to her and ask her if she's gay because of a bad sexual experience with a man.

it's not so much that it was horrible, as it was that it couldn't compete with a dildo, vibrating dildo, or chick with a bad haircut. youch!

[PornoDoggy]

You learned everything you know about lesbians from porn websites, didn't you?

[pushpills]

Originally Posted by PornoDoggy

You learned everything you know about lesbians from porn websites, didn't you?

brad gave me the inside scoop!

[selena]

Originally Posted by Dravyk

Hmm. Maybe I'll hire you as my own private 'tender.


I sit down at a bar. Guy behind the counter asks "Want a drink?"

"Nope, sorry. I brought my own." I reply.

You nudge him out of the way and ask "Want a drink?"


Ah, one can have one's fantasy's now.

I'm rather liking this idea. For a price, of course.

Shall I wear an 'I Dream of Jeanie' costume and call you Master as I serve?

[Dravyk]

Originally Posted by selena

I'm rather liking this idea. For a price, of course.

Shall I wear an 'I Dream of Jeanie' costume and call you Master as I serve?

Since we're dreaming here ... hell, yeah. Why not!

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by PornoDoggy

Oh, wow.

Bed wench?

Morgan's not gonna like that ...

I can take anything from my pitcher takin' sweetie!

[nlphoto]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

I can take anything from my pitcher takin' sweetie!

no worries ma'am... and where did the missus want this here pitcher of Iced Tea taken ??

[OldJeff]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

I'm actually impressed with the amount of analytical thought that went into that!!!

I am actually fucking scared of the amount of thinking that went into that.

[selena]

Originally Posted by Dravyk

Since we're dreaming here ... hell, yeah. Why not!

As you wish, Master.

[corvett]

Originally Posted by Dravyk

Agreed on the toaster!

It took many a drink filled night to come up with that. We talked about ...

- bowling balls (to heavy to carry to the bar, too heavy to throw, hurting the bartender? naw, that was fine, but it might hit a full row of bottles! couldn't have that.

- yoyos (string too short)

- anvils (only works on cartoons)

- cream pies (guy has to pour, so we figured he'll need to see, not to mention the urge to throw them at people on the way to the bar would be too compelling)

... you get the idea. Toasters were light, make a great BONG sound when hit on the side of the head, you can get some Xena action going with the cord if you want ...

You couldn’t use a boomerang, mate?

[Red]

Originally Posted by corvett

You couldn’t use a boomerang, mate?

Now THAT'S a good idea.

It would save money on toasters.

[voodooman]

I wish I would have come up with this idea. However, just because the coaster is telling the waitress that their empty, doesnt mean that that waiter/waitress will get there any quicker, especially in busy bars.

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by nlphoto

no worries ma'am... and where did the missus want this here pitcher of Iced Tea taken ??

Bring it over here and come sit next to me....

[Dravyk]

Originally Posted by corvett

You couldn’t use a boomerang, mate?

We were probably looking for more common items.

That said though, boomergang is a great idea, Corvett!! Five points!