![Nostalgic Mobile Clothesline d1cd4ae0d604a2d21ac1d65d232092b2_large[1]](http://www.backerjack.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Nostalgic-Mobile-Clothesline-d1cd4ae0d604a2d21ac1d65d232092b2_large1-300x201.jpg)
A long time ago in a world not so distant from this one, they used clotheslines to dry wet clothes. Why? Dryers didn’t exist yet. Nevertheless, some people like the smell and feel of sundried clothes, and for them, a Mobile Clothesline that holds an entire load of laundry might be just the thing. But for those of us who don’t have the time, we’ll stick with our dryer – low heat for delicates and minimal shrinkage. There are multiple options out there for mobile drying racks and mobile clothes racks which can be just as easily placed outside and moved around with the sunlight. It doesn’t appear that any of the tiers in this campaign offer The Mobile Clothesline product, but for at least $20 a backer gets a tee-shirt with an estimated delivery of June 2014.
Category: Home
![StaX e7f31d4cdf74c5cc8c888b45d9cc8315_large[1]](http://www.backerjack.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/StaX-e7f31d4cdf74c5cc8c888b45d9cc8315_large1-300x287.jpg)
Ode to StaX: I think that I shall never see, a storage thingy diverse as thee. Well, maybe that was a bit over-the-top, but StaX is truly capable of providing a home for all your small clutter. The multi-optional-colored cylinders are made of aircraft grade aluminum, so you can choose to use them in the garage to store hardware, living room as drink coaster and nut holder, kitchen, bathroom, kids’ rooms, or wherever. It might be interesting to see how the dog would respond to it…or might make an interesting wind chime. StaX seems unique in diversity and adjustability. Plus it looks really cool. For $49, backers get a five piece set with an expected delivery of June 2014.
If you’ve ever longed for a way to dunk your cookies virtually hands-free, your heart’s desire has just been satisfied with the patent-pending Dunkin’ Buddy. The cookie dunking device is compatible with nearly all shapes and sizes of standard, pre-packaged cookie found in your favorite grocery store’s cookie isle. And for you ultimate cookie dunking fanatics out there, you can actually dunk up to two cookies at once – one to eat out of each hand. Dunkin’ Buddy functions via magnetic attraction. The cookies go in the cookie holder which is compatible with a standard sized mug, while the magnetized dunking device remains on the outside the cup. And at the ready for the whim of the cookie owner, volia! Dunked delight! For at least $12, backers get one Dunkin’ Buddy in their choice of blue or pink, with an estimated delivery of June 2014.
Here’s good news for the sweltering, or at least those who will be some six months after this month’s blizzards end. Procubed has developed a better way to install a portable air conditioning unit, but has a ways to go in its video’s production values. The stop-motion shows how to install it, but it’s herky-jerky and is difficult to see. The company isn’t actually providing a portable AC unit, it’s just designed a better way to install it to the window. For $20, you get a plan and a list of where you can get the materials, and for $50 you get the actual parts to assemble it. Delivery is expected April 2014.
The Premise. Home burglaries are a real concern in the U.S. Safes are used to hide valuables, but aren’t always easily accessible. Everyday items like smartphones, tablets and other valuables don’t get stored in safes because it isn’t realistic or convenient to keep them there.
The Product. King Concealment is a box that mounts into the wall and is concealed with a framed photograph. There are two kinds of boxes, both 15”x18”. The starter-box ($39) doesn’t come with a frame to conceal the box, but one can easily use her own photo to do so. The king-box ($79) includes a frame and slider tracks so that the photo can be moved easily. The frame comes either in mahogany or black.
The Pitch. The Kickstarter campaign’s video features a dramatization of a slow-moving burglar in a gray leather jacket and wool gloves snatching various items around the house. His slinky demeanor and 1940’s burglar-like mannerisms make the video hilarious in an unexpected way. Braeden Cuff, King Concealment’s creator, spends the remainder of the video talking about his passion to help minimize the destruction a burglary can cause. The rest of the campaign gives clear prices for his product and tips for installation, which is definitely handy for the not-so-handyman. Cuff hopes to raise $15,000 for the product, for which a Web site is already up and running.
The Perks. An early bird special pledge of $39 includes a start-up box and shipping costs. From there, a higher tier is $99 and includes a king-box, choice of frame color and $20 for shipping. Cuff has an estimated availability of March to April 2014.
The Potential. There are already diversion safes out there that resemble household items such as shaving cream cans and bibles that hide things in plain sight. The King Concealment box has more room than these, but is clearly less convenient to install. On the other hand, home safes are expensive and can even attract burglars to some extent. Cuff says that his wall boxes are perfect for storing handguns. The case for access might be strong, but guns should really be locked up. However, the boxes are perfect for other valuables one wants accessible — that is, unless a potential perpetrator happens to catch you accessing it.
The Premise. The concept of the perfect space heater is something that people have been looking to capitalize upon for years. The problem is particularly challenging outdoors where one might be far away from an outlet.
The Product. According to designer Omid Moallemi, the pyramid-like thermoelectric heater was developed to make “al fresco” living in cold weather climates like England a bit more hospitable. The concept is simple. It takes in cold air, the unit heats the air by convection and thus pushes out hot air. It bills itself as being self-powered, which certainly sets it apart from many other heaters on the market.
The Pitch. While the campaign page contains a brief explanation as to why it was invented and how it works, there’s no video to show anything in action (presumably because a working prototype doesn’t truly exist as of yet). The two included photos are mockups, and they do little to make sense of the unit. This is a campaign that is very light on information, which doesn’t help particularly considering that its value (heat production) is something that can’t be conveyed by simply looking at it.
The Perks. It’s a little unclear what a pledge of £500 gets you. The reward tier promises customization of a unit, but the delivery of a “free” unit doesn’t begin until the £1,000 reward tier. You’ll have to wait awhile in any case as delivery isn’t estimated until December 2014.
The Potential. As a concept, there’s a lot to be said for this if it works as described, that is. Since the heater is self-powered, it requires no charging, doesn’t utilize solar panels and is completely self-contained. However, it probably does require at least a decent breeze to do its thing. Unfortunately, there’s really no way to know what kind of heat the product puts out. It may be cold logic, but it’s probably best to wait this one out and see if it actually makes it to market.