I thought I'd let you know about a product that might be the next step up from the Room Defender you posted about. The Scarecrow is a motion-activated sprinkler. It's made as an animal deterrent but I expect it would work just as well in your bathroom or next to the front door with the convenient mounting bracket to keep away meddlers. On the web site they got some video of it being used on some poor dears, dogs and birds. I don’t know why they aren’t marketing this as a toy as well.
So funny. I just built one of these to keep the deer away from the garden. Used an X10 optical sensor that triggers a sprinkler valve...works a little too well I'd have to admit. First, no deer, but the fatal flaw: wind!!! D'oh, never saw that coming. Espcially since the plants are bigger it takes very little and there are things much smaller than deer that can do just as much damage. And yes, cats hate it.
Good news. The Scarecrow smarts include a 'de-sensitizing' routine to avoid driving users nuts. ;-)
As for marketing it as a toy - good idea. I think you just did more to achieve that by posting your suggestion here than I did taking the idea to Toy Fair in New York! The retail buyers all wanted it sell for the same as a Super Soaker. Tough gig if you have to add circuitry and an instant opening/closing valve.
BTW, your list of novelty applications should also include placement along walkways at Halloween (water spray pointed away of course ;-) and the suggestion parents strategically position these outside teenager's windows to control late night escapades. He he..
D'oh, never saw that coming. Espcially since the plants are bigger it takes very little and there are things much smaller than deer that can do just as much damage. And yes, cats hate it.
As for marketing it as a toy - good idea. I think you just did more to achieve that by posting your suggestion here than I did taking the idea to Toy Fair in New York! The retail buyers all wanted it sell for the same as a Super Soaker. Tough gig if you have to add circuitry and an instant opening/closing valve.
BTW, your list of novelty applications should also include placement along walkways at Halloween (water spray pointed away of course ;-) and the suggestion parents strategically position these outside teenager's windows to control late night escapades. He he..
Erik. Scarecrow guy.