Fred

Short Take: Always Losing Your Keys? This Is For You

August 4, 2011 | by Fred (email) |

Here’s a neat find: an innovative switch plate design by Jake Frey, a 3rd year Industrial Design student at Philadelphia University. The magnet appears to be powerful enough to hold a whole batch of keys by the key ring alone.

And in case you don’t fully understand how it’s designed, Jake provides this blueprint for the idea 🙂

Looks like you can buy it directly from TheFancy for $25. I think it would be great for our upcoming workshop, but unfortunately it only comes as a single plate. We’ll likely have at least a two-gang box out there.

Perhaps Jake will see this and make us our own custom version. We can hope.

[Credit: TheFancy via Gizmodo]

15 Responses
  1. Eek565 says:

    Nice! I wonder if it could hold my 2lb key chain?

  2. Joe says:

    Interesting idea, you could get a key locker… or just hammer a nail into the wall 🙂

    Another option is to epoxy a curiously strong (read neodymium) magnet to the back of any old switchplate (which is probably what he did), then you can do it on any size switchplate you want.
    http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/science/e802/

  3. Lisa says:

    you must know my husband and brother! :0)

  4. MissFixIt says:

    I seen a plate with a bunch of little plastic hooks on the end which comes in single, double,triple switch aswell as decora. Think at bed bath and beyond or something like that.

  5. paintergal says:

    Wellll… can’t say I am loving this. 😉
    Probably be nice for a workshop, but not too decorative for a home.

  6. Jake says:

    i can make you a double, just email me

    • Fred says:

      And this is why I love blogging — cause you write something like this and the inventor himself stops by 🙂 I will be writing you about the double plate for our workshop. We’re going to be installing surface mounted electric (inside PVC) with a PVC box. The cover will need to fit tightly on it.

      • Jake says:

        no problem, if its not the standard double just let me know the dimensions etc and ill have one made. thank you all,

        -Jake

        jakefrey.com

        • Fred says:

          Jake, we’ve just finished hanging the drywall. Our next step is mudding then installing the surface-mount electric. I will be in touch with the exact dimensions of the box for you so that we can have one of these built for us. Should be great.

  7. Liz says:

    Brilliant! And hilarious that the owner just commented above me. Ah the wonders of blogging…

  8. JustME says:

    I absolutely love this idea! Jake, you’re brilliant!
    Personally I think switch plates should be more than just decorative. I’d use it at the back door or even in the pantry to hold keys. In fact I’m thinking it would be nice if it was extended to the side of the switch so one could post reminder notes to oneself or family member for in a mud room. Like “Don’t forget it’s trash day dear” or just plain “HOMEWORK” for those kids that tend to leave it at home if not reminded. It could be like a mini bulletin board.

  9. Jake says:

    Thank you all for your suggestions and insight. Look out for my project being launched on Kickstarter next week!!
    Jake

  10. HANDYMAN51 says:

    Being concerned aboiut home security, I’d be careful not to keep all important keys on a switchplate that could be accessed by smashing glass on your front door. Give a thief an opportunity and you’re enabling crime. Just sayin’!

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