"My garage is basically a workshop decorated with backpacks, kayaks, golf clubs, skis and, of course, bicycles," writes engineer Robert G. Ozarski. An avid cyclist, Ozarski found the clutter was getting in the way of his hobby. To make his bike more easily accessible, he invented this easy-to-use bike hoist.

Ozarski's Kradl object requires no power. It attaches to a ceiling joist with two screws (and can be mounted on an angle, up to 45 degrees, if your ceiling is sloped). It contains a spring-loaded cable that you hook around your bike's top tube or wheel. Then you pull on the release cable, and the hoist does the rest:

Ozarski reckons using his invention is better than dealing with "electricity, clumsy ropes or pulleys." He's designed a version that can lift bikes up to 25 lbs, and a second that can handle up to 40 lbs. Both run $160 apiece, and the price goes down if you buy multiple units.

Here's how you operate it, in detail: