Ah celebrities, is there anything they can’t do? Actually yes: inventing useful things for the real world. Wired’s Roberto Baldwin took an in-depth look at the 19 patents invented by ingenious celebrities (plus one by Paula Abdul). As you’ll see, these guys probably shouldn’t quit their day jobs any time soon.

Here’s my favorite invention – and probably the most clever idea of them all – from Marlon Brando, who patented a “drumhead tensioning device and method.” Take a look:

Known for his roles in A Streetcar Named Desire, The Godfather, and Apocalypse Now, Marlon Brando had an on-screen presence that was difficult to ignore. But off screen, Brando wanted his presence felt elsewhere — in the world of musical instrument design. As an amatuer drummer and inventor, the actor secured four design patents for a new method of tuning conga drums. The Drumhead Tensioning Device and Method patent replaces the five to six bolts that surround a drumhead with a tensioner that uniformly tightens by way of a single element. It’s actually quite ingenious, and drummers should take note.

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