![](https://doyouremember.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Inventions-702x369.jpg)
When we think of inventors, the image that comes to mind is usually that of a frazzled scientist toiling away in a lab, not celebrities pulled from the pages ofย Us Weekly. However, a number of well-known public figures hold patents for various innovations. Some are related to the work that made them famous, while others are offshoots of hobbies or just a single great idea. Here are a few of our favorite celebrity inventors.
1. JAMIE LEE CURTIS
In 1987 Curtisย designed and patentedย a disposable diaper that included a waterproof pocket that held baby wipes. She hasn’t profited from her idea yet, though, since she refuses to license the patent until diaper companies make biodegradable products.
2. EDDIE VAN HALEN
Part of guitar wizard Eddie Van Halen’s signature sound was his two-handed tapping technique, but letting all ten fingers fly while simultaneously holding up the guitar’s neck could get a bit tricky. Van Halen came up with a novel way to get around this problem, though; heย invented a support (top)ย that could flip out of the back of his axe’s body to raise and stabilize the fretboard so he could tap out searing songs like “Eruption.”ย While Van Halen was obviously interested in improving his guitar work, theย patent application he filed in 1985ย notes that the device would work with any stringed instrument. Want to tap out a scorching mandolin solo? Find someone selling Eddie’s device.
3. JAMES CAMERON
Itโs probably not surprising that Cameronโwhoย designed a submersible to take him to the deepest known part of the oceanโwill often invent technology to make his films if what he needs doesnโt exist. He holds a number of patents, includingย US Patent No. 4996938, โapparatus for propelling a user in an underwater environment,โ that he and his brother, Michael, created to filmย The Abyssย and patented in 1989. The device isย basically an underwater dolly equipped with propellers that makes it easy for a camera operator to maneuver in the waterโand allowed Cameron to capture the shots he wanted for the 1989 film, part of which wasย filmed in an abandoned nuclear reactor.