Many an inventor has pondered over technical solutions to distribute confetti. In the patent database, we came across a ‘device for launching confetti’. Its scattering effect is limited to a small radius. However, with the confetti cannon, which can also fire streamers, you can spread joy to a lot more people. And if you like to celebrate carnival with a bottle of champagne, why not be showered with confetti as you pop it open?

We’re now in the middle of the hustle and bustle, really experiencing how Fasnacht and music are inextricably linked. Whether you’re in Lucerne, Basel, Bern or elsewhere, the elaborately dressed ‘Guggenmusik’ bands are the main attraction and create a fantastic atmosphere. In the crowd, you might spot someone with a virtual musical instrument that produces sound based on their body movements. Or a musician wearing an inflatable hat complete with a wind instrument. The wind instrument holder is a very practical Swiss invention. You also might see someone marching away while playing a tune on their portable electronic keyboard.

We’re nearing the end of our patent carnival. A database search leads us to a decorative mask that contains a lot of technology. A ‘pocket-sized electrification device’ adds to the electric atmosphere, and can be found in well-stocked retail outlets. And lastly, what’s carnival without a bit of glitter?