I learnt someone at work could catch lollies in their mouth, now I have this idea. I thought someone must have already had it but couldn't find it when I looked.

You have a machine that launches snacks (nuts, chocolate, lollies) through the air on a trajectory that is reasonably convenient to catch in your mouth. Have one hooked up to a front door opening sensor, to feed you when you come home. If a burglar breaks in through the front door they will be lightly shot in the head with a nut. Have one hooked up to refrigerator door to sustain you while you pick out a more substantial meal. Have a button-triggered one set up in the toilet because you don't want to eat with your hands in there.
-- caspian, May 26 2007

Similar concept, longer range Orbital_20toaster
[normzone, May 26 2007]

Another flinger Keyboard_20Mint_20Launcher
for work [lurch, May 26 2007]

student invented a popcorn shooter for his brother http://www.news.wisc.edu/9885.html
[xandram, May 27 2007]

[+], largely for the euphonic phrase "lightly shot in the head with a nut".
-- MaxwellBuchanan, May 26 2007


I like it. The mechanism could be adjusted (with a little trial and error) to send the candy in a gentle arc just in front of and perpendicular to your face as you recline in your favorite comfy chair to watch your favourite programme. A slight but timely lean forward is all that would be needed to snatch the treat from the air.

The trigger could be the "clap on/clap off" type, a foot pedal, or a button on the remote control
-- Gamma48, May 26 2007


//Have a button-triggered one set up in the toilet because you don't want to eat with your hands in there.//

I'm not really wondering what your choice of bathroom snacks is. [-]
-- nuclear hobo, May 26 2007


[+] largely for the anno with the phrase "largely for the euphonic phrase 'lightly shot in the head with a nut'"
-- figmeant, May 27 2007


I like the clapping trigger idea. You could pretend to be a seal.
-- caspian, May 27 2007


//You could pretend to be a seal//
sp. "sea lion"
-- AbsintheWithoutLeave, May 27 2007


what's wrong with *seal*?
-- po, May 27 2007


[po] Seals can't raise themselves on their forefins and clap, like sea-lions do, which is why you don't see trained seals in the circus.
Or maybe seals are cleverer and therefore better at hiding their talents, so they don't get kidnapped and trained for the circus.
Remember also, that according to Eddie Izzard, all nice animals have ears (sea-lions), whilst evil animals (sharks, seals) don't.
-- AbsintheWithoutLeave, May 27 2007


21st century popcorn-catching. (+)
-- croissantz, May 27 2007


There are a number of machines that throw certain types of foods (marshmallows, popcorn, beer cans), but to make a general purpose one would be a feat.
-- Cuit_au_Four, May 28 2007



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