Self-sorting (sorta) bin

[ecuadoriana]

...I hadn't thought about its resemblance to a preschool shape-matching toy, but I'm sure our long-forgotten memories of childhood playtime are what makes us put everything in the right slots!...I'm quite content to let someone copy the design and manufacture them in China so I can buy a couple more for my own home.
Wulf

I'd hate to see this great idea head off to a sweat shop in China. I'm not sure where you are Wulf, but this would make a great job opportunity for the mentally/physically challenged community. There are several organizations near where I live that provide light manufacturing/industrial jobs for this community of people who genuinely want to contribute and be productive (the days of sorting wooden sticks and mending brooms in an institutional warehouse are long over, thank heavens!).

You could approach your local agencies with your idea to look into setting up a small scale operation for production and distribution. You don't seem so concerned with a profit, as you stated you'd be happy to buy some for yourself! So proceeds could go back into the community.

It is agreed by all that you have an excellent idea- and an obviously generous heart!

Every large tree started as a small seed. Even the place you work now had once been a small seed!      

[CraftyDeJa]

This really does rock!!! The basic concept has soooooo many applicants as the other respondents stated. I immediately thought of office items, coins, and small crafting items!!

Before you send you idea off to China (if you were serious) please try to find someone here in the US who is interested and can manufacture it first. We need to keep jobs here AND, in my opinion, the quality might be a little better. How often do you buy an item because it's cute and inexpensive and it "breaksdown" almost immediately. In my experience, these items have often been made in China, Mexico or something. Besides, I love buying local ... especially if I can know the creator/company. Ok, sorry ... didn't mean to go off on a tangent.

[JohnnyBeLovely]

This is great but do they really use it?

[Motherfungus]

Aaakk!  I need one of these for laundry, dishes, kid's homework, bills, and junk just laying all over the house.  This is fantastic.  Hits This Rocks!

[Wulf]

Yes, it does get used, and I haven't seen any sign of screws going into the nail opening, etc.

As for manufacturing in China, I was only partly joking. The only way that most of us could afford to buy something like this ready-made is if it was mass-produced, probably in an overseas factory. One cut out and assembled by hand would be far too expensive to be worth it. That, of course, is where craft comes into it. Because we are crafters, we don't have to wait 'til it appears in WalMart. We can just build one of our own, and probably improve it in the process. Get crafting!

Wulf

[KraftyKitonet]

This is excellent. So handy and something we could use around here.

[jennjitsu]

BRILLIANT. I'm ROCKING this!
Now, I wonder how to go about making one that sorts dolls, My Little Ponies, and the other playthings I'm constantly picking up!

[Wulf]

Now, I wonder how to go about making one that sorts dolls, My Little Ponies, and the other playthings I'm constantly picking up!

Oooh! That is a good one!  I wonder if you could use Rubbermaid-type storage boxes in some kind of rack that would stack each one offset about 6 inches past the one beneath. Then cut an opening in the lid of each and have the a series of chutes leading down to the bins. I'd make a game of it by having a target above each chute that you'd have to hit. Maybe each one could make a different sound.

Having watched it work with adults, I'm pretty sure the shaped opening system would work for kids, too. It's just kinda fun to use!

Wulf

[gurchroot]

This is definitely awesome. I want to make one for buttons needs bobbins and other such things.

[aine666]

OMG, this is so cool! I would've never come up with that idea, very clever!