For vehicular visionaries wanting to survey the field of outrageous inventions, or for those amused by the absurdity of mad professor designers, Detroit-based DIY publisher Jack William Hanna has put together a spiral-bound collection of arcane patents.
Released last week, Amazing Patented Inventions, Hanna's sixth collection, features such mind-bogglers as a backpack/fan for high-powered skiing, and all sorts of flying cars, including the "plasmatron internal combustion engine" and the "electric velocipede."
"Some people that call me are really, really serious about what they're doing," says Hanna, which makes sense given his proximity to the automotive Mecca. With previous books, all compiled from Patent Office files, Hanna has had readers call him, upset because some of the devices are so far-fetched.
Hanna has published several books of patents, starting with his first, in 1992, 101 Patented Knife Designs,, a book of folding knives, and, more recently What's New In Air Bag Designs.
