It's an undisputed fact, workplace kitchens are black holes for all things of personal value. If you're trying to prevent a co-worker from helping him or herself to your coffee mug, scratching your name into it with magic marker does not work. This is why a new invention called the "Lock-Cup" has taken mug preservation to the next level. The five-finger-discount-proof cup has a hole that prevents unauthorized drinkers from using it; only the owner--who has a unique key that acts as a plug can use the mug. While the theory behind the "Lock-Cup" is rock solid, do you really want to be known, amongst your co-workers, as that guy that locks up his mug?

In other invention news, Japanese designer Ryohei Yoshiyuki has created the world's first ashtray made of coffee grounds. Spent grounds are known for their ability to mask the smell of cigarette ash. Yoshiyuki's invention gives a whole new meaning to coffee and cigarettes.