Cryptographer Daniel Bernstein, an associate prof at UIC, is fed up with the grasping patent-policy at the university, so he's gone on work-to-rule, adhering to the letter of the law:
The invention is a Soap Saver Dish. The Soap Saver Dish is a plastic holder for soap. It has several prongs reaching up out of a tray. Soap can sit on top of the prongs, while soapy water collects in the tray. The prongs reach higher than the edge of the tray, so that water collected in the tray does not touch the soap.
(via Salad With Steve)