SPILL-PROOF
Sometimes it's easy to forget that useful gadgets need not have the latest whiz-bang technology and a ton of bells and whistles. Sometimes it's just about a gizmo that provides some needed functionality to make every-day life a little easier.
That's what ran through my mind when a
fellow passenger spilled some Starbucks coffee on me, while trying to
get in his airline seat next to me.
In this day and age of airlines cutting back on food and beverage services, and encouraging passengers to bring their own, the need for simple things like cup-holders in a seat seem like no-brainers. Trust the markets to address this need, as this Washington Post article notes:
The Cup-Pilot, designed by a former Vermont secretary of
transportation, attempts to stop the spills by keeping the beverage
where it belongs: inside the container.
The collapsible contraption resembles a basketball hoop for Team
Smurf, with a small net pouch attached to a plastic "backboard." A
metal hook fastens to a number of surfaces, including luggage, airplane
trays (open and closed) and your spouse's finger.
Although this item
might seem a bit excessive, much like lipstick holders, it does come in
handy in flight. We imagine using it while settling into our seat, when
our arms are otherwise busy storing a carry-on, and at high altitudes,
when we have important papers and gadgets arrayed on our tray table and
don't trust the shallow indentation to do its job. Think of how happy
your boss will be when you deliver a report not smelling of bloody
mary.
The Cup-Pilot is available through the company at 877-287-1130, http:/
At $18.95, the price seems a bit steep, but worth it if prevents me from spilling a beverage onto a laptop, mine or a fellow passengers'.
I'm ordering one, and also bracing for the flight attendant to tell me that FAA regulations preclude using this gizmo before take-off or approaching landing, of course making it far less useful.
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