Have you ever stopped and taken a moment to examine the design of a grocery cart? In the hustle and bustle world we live in, you probably haven’t. Well, that’s why we’re here today; to teach you new things about everyday items! Take a look at the picture. Do you see those metal loops that jut out of the fold-out section of carts? This protects the products in your cart.
You can use the loops to hang plastic bags that are carrying breakable items like eggs and soft items like bread that you don’t want to get squashed by heavier items. The designer of the grocery cart was clearly well beyond their years. In fact, if you ever check out people who bag your groceries and put them in your cart, they themselves might not even be aware of this interesting function. Next time you can teach them something new and become the most likable person in the whole store.
Plastic Lids on Cups
You will probably gawk at this next one and slap yourself for never having realized this. The plastic lid that comes along with your disposable cup can also be used as a coaster, both for coffee cups and soda beverages.
Of course, when you're walking or in the car, you will keep the lid on. But when you sit down to enjoy your caffeine kick, the ridges of the lid are designed to grip your cup and hold it in place. Anyways, now we know better than to indulge in plastic lids... looks like you missed out on the opportunity.
Randomly Placed Buttons on Jeans
If you wear jeans often, then you have most likely noticed all the extra buttons scattered around the pockets of your pants. These buttons, which are technically called rivets, are strategically placed on the jeans to prevent them from getting worn out at the seams and ripping. Imagine your jeans ripping in the middle of an event or a holiday dinner after eating that decadent chocolate cake.
Jean tycoon Levi Strauss has ownership of these rivets, and they have a patent over them. They were introduced in 1829 after miners started to complain about their jeans wearing out very fast. So, young Mr. Strauss started thinking and came up with this product. They help jeans practically last forever. Next time you're out shopping for your next pair of jeans, just make sure that the ones you're purchasing have these bad boys on them.
Golf Ball Dimples
If you've ever gotten up close and personal with a golf ball, then you've noticed that its exterior is covered in dozens of little dimples. Golf balls weren't always this way. What happened is that experienced golfers started to notice that, over time, the older balls that had bumps and nicks would travel further.
These imperfections help create turbulence in the air around the ball, which then helps to reduce drag. Eventually, manufacturers began to design golf balls with these dimples already intact so that the balls get more lift and reach greater distances.
Margins on Lined Paper
You've used notebook paper thousands of times. But have you ever asked yourself why they look the way that they do? And how come when you get to college, do you have more space on the page? Well, the answer to the second question is obvious- colleges like to torture. But the answer to the first question is a little more fascinating and involves traveling back in time.
Years ago, when rats were frequently found in homes, they would chew on paper. Thanks to the margins on paper, a rat could nibble around the edges without destroying somebody's work and taking a bite of important information. So back then, kids couldn't use the excuse, "a rat ate my homework." While this feature isn't so necessary anymore, it's a little bit of history that has been maintained. Plus, the edges of our papers often get soiled, so it's a good thing that they're there.