Joy Buzzer
Encyclopedia
A joy buzzer is a practical joke device
that consists of a coiled spring inside a disc worn in the palm of the hand. When the wearer shakes hands with another person, a button on the disc releases the spring, which rapidly unwinds creating a vibration that feels somewhat like an electric shock to someone not expecting it.
The joy buzzer was invented in 1928 by Soren Sorensen Adams of the S.S. Adams Co. It was modeled after another product The Zapper, which was similar to the joy buzzer, but did not have a very effective buzz and contained a button that had a blunt point which would hurt the person whose hand was shaken.
Adams brought a rather large prototype of his newly designed buzzer to Dresden
, Germany
, where a machinist created the tools that would make the parts for a new palm size Joy Buzzer. In 1932, the item received from the U.S. Patent Office
. The instant success of the new item allowed Adams to move to a new building and increase the size of his company. Adams continued to send royalty payments to the tool and die maker until 1934, when the payments were returned.
In 1987, Sam Adams son, Joseph "Bud" Adams, redesigned the mechanism for great durability and a louder buzz, and marketed it as the Super Joy Buzzer.
A common misconception is that the joy buzzer actually delivers an electric shock, and many stylized villains in fiction (e.g. Batman
's nemesis The Joker
) employ "lethally powerful" joy buzzers as weapons. Another example is in the SpongeBob SquarePants
episode "Pranks-A-Lot" wherein Patrick Star
's hand is electrocuted by a joy buzzer and in The Simpsons
episode Homie the Clown
, where Homer Simpson
is shocked with it multiple times by Krusty the Clown to the point where he is tortured by it. However, a shocking pen does, which works by sending a mild electric shock when a victim presses the button on top; the pen can be turned to make it release the point.
Practical joke device
A practical joke device is a manufactured prop or toy intended to confuse, frighten, or amuse individuals as a prank. Often, these objects are harmless facsimiles of disgusting or terrifying objects, such as vomit or spilled nail polish...
that consists of a coiled spring inside a disc worn in the palm of the hand. When the wearer shakes hands with another person, a button on the disc releases the spring, which rapidly unwinds creating a vibration that feels somewhat like an electric shock to someone not expecting it.
The joy buzzer was invented in 1928 by Soren Sorensen Adams of the S.S. Adams Co. It was modeled after another product The Zapper, which was similar to the joy buzzer, but did not have a very effective buzz and contained a button that had a blunt point which would hurt the person whose hand was shaken.
Adams brought a rather large prototype of his newly designed buzzer to Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where a machinist created the tools that would make the parts for a new palm size Joy Buzzer. In 1932, the item received from the U.S. Patent Office
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...
. The instant success of the new item allowed Adams to move to a new building and increase the size of his company. Adams continued to send royalty payments to the tool and die maker until 1934, when the payments were returned.
In 1987, Sam Adams son, Joseph "Bud" Adams, redesigned the mechanism for great durability and a louder buzz, and marketed it as the Super Joy Buzzer.
A common misconception is that the joy buzzer actually delivers an electric shock, and many stylized villains in fiction (e.g. Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
's nemesis The Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
) employ "lethally powerful" joy buzzers as weapons. Another example is in the SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series, created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg. Much of the series centers on the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the underwater city of "Bikini Bottom"...
episode "Pranks-A-Lot" wherein Patrick Star
Patrick Star
Patrick Star is the deuteragonist of the Nickelodeon animated comedy series SpongeBob SquarePants, created by creator Stephen Hillenburg and voiced by Bill Fagerbakke. Patrick's most significant character trait is his lack of common sense, which sometimes makes him a negative influence on his best...
's hand is electrocuted by a joy buzzer and in The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode Homie the Clown
Homie the Clown
"Homie the Clown" is the 15th episode of The Simpsons sixth season, and aired on February 12, 1995. When Krusty the Clown opens a clown college to deal with his debt, Homer Simpson enrolls and ends up impersonating Krusty at public events. Mistaking him for the real clown, the Springfield Mafia...
, where Homer Simpson
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
is shocked with it multiple times by Krusty the Clown to the point where he is tortured by it. However, a shocking pen does, which works by sending a mild electric shock when a victim presses the button on top; the pen can be turned to make it release the point.
See also
- Chinese finger trapChinese finger trapA Chinese finger trap is a gag toy used to play a practical joke on children and unsuspecting adults...
- Whoopee cushionWhoopee cushionA whoopee cushion, also known as a poo-poo cushion and Razzberry Cushion, is a practical joke device, used in a form of flatulence humor, which produces a noise resembling a raspberry or human flatulence. It is made from two sheets of rubber that are glued together at the edges...
- Snake nut canSnake Nut CanA snake nut can is a practical joke device that closely resembles a can of nuts, but contains a long wire spring covered by a cloth or vinyl sheath, printed like snake skin, which leaps out of the can and startles the unsuspecting victim....
- Chewing gum bugChewing Gum BugA chewing gum bug is a practical joke gag used to play tricks on people, usually adults. The appearance is of a 5-pack of chewing gum, with one stick of gum remaining. The trick works when the prankster tricks the victim into pulling out the last stick of gum...
- Fake vomitFake vomitFake vomit is a flat plastic disc with indentations and protrusions designed to look like mucus or vomit. It is a practical joke often used by pranksters to disgust victims....
- Shock Gum