The Sky's the Limit: 7 Weird Inventions That Were Big Marketing Hits [Infographic]

It's happened to all of us. We see an advertisement or some other reference to a seemingly useless product. And yet, it "sells like hotcakes," as the saying goes -- and you think to yourself, "Well, I could have invented that."

But there's a reason why these products sell. They come with a use that's somewhat niche in nature, but highly novel. Think about some of the products you may have come across in a SkyMall catalogue -- a wall-mounted electric fireplace? A foldable pet ottoman? They sound completely frivilous, but if I'm being honest, even I might buy them.

There are some inventions, though, that have earned a status as household names, as well as tons of money. What are they, and how did they come to be? Well, you're in luck -- this infographic from SilverDoor answers those questions about seven of the most popular ones.

So read on, and be prepared to ask, "Why didn't I think of that?"