College roomates often arrange a signal to tell the other not to disturb them, such as a tie on the doorknob. This invention is a door knob with buttons on the inside and lights on the outside to signal each other. A basic scheme might be "green-OK to enter," "yellow -knock first," "red-come back later." It could even have an audio sensor so if you were getting hot and heavy it would blink at a corresponding rate to the private activity.
-- Cube, Jan 21 2006

I like this idea, and I'd add some electronically controlled ratchet mechanism to impede or prevent someone opening the door (e.g. if they're too drunk or the visitor they're bringing back to the room doesn't know the score)

[Erm, a belated welcome to the Bakery - Funny, Did anyone hear "Custard-Filled Speed Bumps" bell?]
-- Dub, Jan 21 2006


If it blinked "at a corresponding rate to the private activity" I can picture the hallway full of people giggling. Nice idea.
-- PollyNo9, Jan 21 2006


"I like this idea, and I'd add some electronically controlled ratchet mechanism to impede or prevent someone opening the door"

like a lock? wow! what a creative idea!
-- Dickcheney6, Jan 25 2010


Well a ratchet implies that the door could be pushed open a crack, allowing a peep inside, if the action was not _too_ private.
-- pocmloc, Jan 25 2010


As far as I am concerned, they can peek to see me just as long as I am not aware of it.
-- Jscotty, Jan 25 2010


/just as long as I am not aware of it/

As the doorknob no longer needs its tie, you might use the tie to blindfold yourself.
-- bungston, Jan 25 2010



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