Roller Blades Invented in 1901 are Finally Catching On

In 1901 P. Jassmann (what a cool last name) invented what is know today as the roller blade. Only his invention leverages the bouncing motion of the rider to propel the wheels. He says, "The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved roller-skate which is simple and durable in construction, easily constructed, easily attached to the foot, and arranged to transmit the downward motion of the foot-rest to one of the wheels to propel the roller-skate and the skater at a high rate of speed.

Today 111 years later we have the "Land Roller" with a foot rest and two wheels with spokes.

What if Jassmann's regenerative motion could be applied to a modern day polycarbonate graphite roller blade, how cool would that be? There is always room for improvement.

Nail It Then Scale It on Page 25 Says:

"It isn’t necessary to be an inventor to be an entrepreneur nor is it the hardest part. There are many, many inventions lying around that can be picked up and applied to a market problem. These include inventions that can be licensed from companies or universities, inventions from other industries or geographies that can be applied in a new market, old ideas that can be applied in new ways, and many other sources." Read the Startup Book

Elevated Cycle Railway Invented in 1898 Receives $1 Million in Funding from Google

In 1898 the Elevated Cycle Railway was invented by W. H. Martin. Look closely and you will see two seats and one set of peddles. This same design has been reinvented in New Zeland today as high speed modern variation called the Shweeb.

Mr. Martin writes, "What I claim as my invention is an elevated-track cycle, the combination with the cycle-frame, of the equalizing straps or braces extended from an upper portion of the cycle-frame, above the track, to a portion of the said frame below the track and adapted to equalize the weight on both ends of the cycle-axles, enabling the track to support heavy weights, substantially as described."

112 years later Google decided to invest $1 million in this same basic design today know as the Shweeb peddle powered monorail. The Shweeb monorail uses recumbent cycle technologies and is much more streamlined but the basic principles are the same. Often new inventions are just simplified redesigns of old ideas that stand the test of time and fundraising comes in smaller amounts. Is your invention timeless and in its most simplified form?

Nail It Then Scale It on Page 24 Says:

"As an example of how much invention is available, university patents have increased by 1600% in the last thirty years. In just the past eleven years there has been a 439% increase in the number of total patent applications in the U.S. This means that just in terms of patented inventions there are probably many useful inventions available." Read the new Startup Book

1911 Ultra Light - If It Looks Like a Bird It Will Fly

J. Anderson's 1911 Flying Machine does not look all that different than the Ultra Lights of today. Many turn of the century patents show bird like designs. After all if it looks like a bird it must fly like a bird. Anderson explains "a still further object of this invention is to provide an aeroplane in the general form of a bird, the wings of which are practically rigid with respect to the central beam."

Today flying machines take flight because we understand the principles of laminar flow and airfoils. We use data driven design to dictate the outcome of success. Being passionately connected to an idea may disconnect us from being successful.

Nail It Then Scale It on Page 44 Says:

"Many entrepreneurs and investors operate on beliefs and gut feelings. But as research has shown, gut feelings and beliefs can be highly inaccurate. Drawing on the metaphor of the scientific method that we have employed as a motivation and description of the NISI process, entrepreneurs can develop a more scientific mind-set or data data-driven approach to launching a company." Read the Startup Book

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1908 Smart Car with Regenerative Braking

In 1908 C. J. Paulson patented a Smart Car size automobile that today would be the equivalent of a "Green" vehicle with regenerative breaking such as the Toyota Prius.

C. J.'s automobile had a "mechanism for motor vehicles of various kinds such as driven by electric motors or explosive engines, and has for its object to provide means in the nature of an auxiliary spring powered device, whereby a surplus of power from the motor and also from the momentum of the car can be stored in the spring to assist in running the car; or if the motor becomes disabled the vehicle can be propelled a short distance. "

Today in 2012 this looks like the LiFe Wheego Electric car. This front wheel drive electric vehicle has 60hp from the 115 volt Lithium Battery Pack and the LiFe features a proportional regenerative braking system to put power back into the battery during braking. The Wheego Whip LiFe has a top speed of 65mph.
Nail It Then Scale It on Page 25 Says:

"In discovering market insights, the key point is that market insight comes from being in a market, interacting with customers, and deeply understanding the problems they are trying to solve. However, it is usually not something that customers will just up and tell you, it comes from deep observation of customer pains and the outcomes they are trying to achieve." 

1900 Motor Cycle Patent by G. D. Green - Good designs never die, they are only improved

Today G. D. Green's patent is the same basic diamond bicycle design that has been in use for over 115 years, only adapted to form a motor cycle frame.

He says,"To this end the invention consists in certain improvements in construction of the frame adapted not only to carry the motor in such a way that the center of gravity is near the ground, but to provide a device in which the motor and operating parts are effectually prevented from injury should the machine be overturned or other wise subjected to hard usage."

For over 115 years the bicycle frame has stood the test of time. It has been improved upon as engineers adapted it to new uses by adding a motor but the basic diamond shape is still in use today.

Electric Bikes and Motorcycles 

With the adaptation or invention of zero emission electrics it was only a matter of time before history repeated itself with electric bikes and electric motorcycles (bigger electric bikes). With these two electric motor cycles we have come full circle since the first single piston engine was mounted on the first bicycle.

 The Stromer electric bike is essentially a moped, https://www.stromerbike.com/en/us/

The Zero is a silent running zero emission two wheel rocket.  http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/zero-s/