Almost 1,300 patents issued by the King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology (KACST) between November 2013 and June this year have yet to come into effect, according to Sadoon Al-Sadoon, chairman of the telecommunication and transport committee at the Shoura Council.

Many of these patent logos, designed for products ranging from dusting rags, diapers and cosmetics to lingerie, napkins, bottles and tents, were hard to understand.

There were also patents for quirky devices, including a manual gadget for detecting the crescent, a tool for repairing bird feathers and a prayer mat that keeps track of its user’s prayer record.

The car sector also had its fair share of novel inventions, such as a car designed to combat riots and an exclusive cover for engines.

The medical sector, meanwhile, saw patents for blood testing equipment, pharmaceutical pills and tooth fillings, in addition to a gadget for defining salt concentration and a machine for producing both salt and clean water simultaneously.