You’ll Never Guess Why Pen Caps Have Holes. This Is Absolute Genius!

Written by Jyotsana Rao, BE  • 

Sometimes, science is all about amazing inventions and mind-boggling physics that originate from exciting concepts. But again, there are a few situations where we come across very simple, yet innovative ideas that are very important in our day to day life. And that is when we realize that the world of inventions is very ingenious.

One such exciting and genius concept is the ubiquitous hole at the top of the caps of ball pens. You might have noticed it many times, but may never have given it a second thought.

While some probably brush it off as a random design, others think that the hole prevents the ink from drying. A few people believe that the hole regulates the air pressure and allows us to close the lid properly. Well, air regulation can be considered as one of the factors for the presence of the hole, but that is just the partial truth.

The real reason for the existence of the hole is to prevent the pen cap from choking our throat. Many people have the habit of chewing the pen caps, and while doing so, there are chances that you can just swallow the cap. And if you swallow it, the pen cap is obviously going to get stuck in your throat, which may cause choking due to the lack of oxygen.

Image: Shutterstock

To prevent this situation, BIC, the leader in the production of pens, shavers, etc., incorporated the idea of a hole on the top of the cap in 1991, and all the other brands supported it.

According to research, approximately 100 Americans die every year because of choking caused by swallowing pen caps. But since the time these holes have been incorporated, the death rates have seen a sharp decline.

Now you might have guessed the reason for the hole in lollipop sticks too. Yes, the stick is hollow to prevent you from choking!

Hope you find this article informative. Share your views in the comments box below.

Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
The following two tabs change content below.

Latest Articles