One of the great things about the web is that almost anything you want to know about is usually just several clicks away. Especially at Google, where they are putting up just about everything you could possibly want to know about.

Case in point: patents. You can search through patents from 1790 to 1996. And that includes patents from celebrity inventors. Did you know that Lawrence Welk patented an ash tray shaped like an accordian? Or how about an enhanced fish attractor device from M*A*S*H's Gary Burghoff? And how about this music display system from Harry Connick, Jr.?

But the most interesting might be the Hydro-Therapeutic Stimulator from Penn Jillette. Basically, it's a large water-filled tub used for, um, sexual stiimulation (for females - sorry, guys).

[via Pop Candy]