The Clapper
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The Clapper is a sound activated electrical switch, sold by San Francisco, California based Joseph Enterprises, Inc and marketed with the slogan "Clap On! Clap Off!". The Clapper works with any American standard electrical outlet.
Two upgrades have been made.
- The Smart Clapper allows control of two devices, based on if one claps two or three times.
- A design revision known as the Clapper Plus includes a remote control function in addition to sound-based activation.
The Clapper can sometimes be triggered by a dog's bark or clapping that emanates from televisions and stereo speakers set at high volume, making it somewhat inconvenient for households with dogs and loud appliances.
There is also an away setting on the clapper that turns on whatever is plugged into it at any detection of noise. It can also be used to turn lights on whenever a room is occupied without having to clap.
The Clapper, was issued US Patent #5493618 on July 9, 1986 and first sold to the public on September 1, 1985.[1]
[edit] In popular culture
In the 2006 film, Night at the Museum, when Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) is at the Job agency presenting his resume, he mentions that he created "The snapper", and that "The Clapper" stole "a bit of his thunder".
In the 2004 film, Garden State, when Sam (Natalie Portman)'s family and Andrew (Zach Braff) are applauding her ice skating video, the lights turn off because of their clapper, and Titembay (Ato Essandoh) has to clap twice to turn them back on.
In the 2003 dark comedy, Duplex, Alex (Ben Stiller) installs the clapper in Mrs. Connelly's T.V. so that he can turn it off from his apartment below by clapping. And so then one night the two of them go back and forth in a clapping battle, Alex turning her loud T.V. off, and Mrs. Connelly turning it back on, and back off, and then back on, etc.
The Clapper appears in Bruce Almighty where God clapped off the lights, then recites "The Clapper" jingle.
In the TV series Roseanne, Dan and Roseanne use a Clapper in their bedroom.
