This week, the 36th International Exhibition of Inventions has flooded Geneva with tinkerers, hackers, and other weirdos who like to make stuff. One of the largest gatherings of its kind, the organizers explain (pdf) in delightfully weird English that "1,000 completely new inventions in all areas of human activity are presented by companies, researchers and inventors, universities and private and State organisms."

Being the merry band of builders that you are, I'm sure you're all already there among the 65,000 attendees snapping pictures, but in case you couldn't make it, we present a mini-gallery of minor genius on parade.

Pictured above is Heina Gruber of South Dakota Germany and his hot-air grill, which puts a vertical spin on the conventional barbecue, supposedly allowing for healthier cooking. You'll find four more inventors and their nerdy, charming brainchildren after the jump.

But it's not all mullets and roasting sausages at the expo. There are some serious, productivity-enhancing inventions like the Trespolo, created by Italy's Cosimo Letterielo, and pictured above. This transformer of a laptop case can change into a workstation in 30 seconds. Now if only he can add a windmill and some solar cells, you'll never have to fight for a table or an outlet at your favorite overcrowded coffee shop.

After all that eating and off-desk working, your spine is probably longing for a massage. But, massages are expensive, so instead, you can use France's Paul Fischer's Cervical Stretcher exercise and therapy device. As a bonus, the clever design looks like a very small toilet seat with shoulder pads.

When you need a 108 decibel noise but don't have any batteries or explosive devices, you can turn to Roberto Riber Arzabala of Spain's logically-named "Air horn". Just blow into the mouthpiece and out comes an ear-shattering wall of sound. Earplugs not included.

Fabrice Leblat's Leblatphone is a portable speaking machine for those who have lost their ability to talk. It works a bit like Stephen Hawking's speech-aid Words Plus, but in handheld form. By producing sounds from syllables, it does seem to work, but judging from this – video, no one is going to mistake you for Cicero.

Images: AP Photo/Keystone, Martial Trezzini