The other day at an inspection I saw a use of a laser beam that I had never seen before. Picture a laser pointer like your Home Inspector might use to point out things around the home or take temperatures with-----or the one a lecturer might use to point to things on a power point presentation. Now mount the thing on the ceiling of your garage pointing straight down. Sounds pretty strange doesn't it? Well, if you point the laser in the right place, when you drive your car into the garage and the laser beam hits your dashboard----you will know it is time to stop----before you wipe out the freezer. Pretty cool, yes? People used to do the same thing with a tennis ball on a string----or a life size cut-out of Marilyn Monroe----I for one will miss Marilyn. 
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Interesting idea.....I still have a tennis ball....my dodge truck just barely fits so it is a good thing! LOL
Laser, laser in the sky
Make me stop
I don't know why
See lots of Maine home garages with the long clothes line length of rope that you mentioned. A glow in the the dark flourescent green tennis ball knotted on the end at windshield height on each bay for the shorter legged drivers in the family that have trouble knowing where the corners of the mother ship are when space docking. No batteries, no beams. Just a tennis ball served up whenever the car returns, gets put away for the night.
That's pretty cool. How much is it?
That is really cool....I personally just stop when I bump into the freezer (works for me and I haven't wiped it out ....yet).
so... is the laser on all the time, or is it activated when the garage door opens?? hmmmm???
You just have to love American ingenuity! This is a great idea. I know a few people who could benefit from this.
Charles - I once had a short garage and a long truck. I just used the wall to tell me when I was fully inside--otherwise the door wouldn't close. But I do like the Marilyn idea.
A high-tech way for knowing when to stop... What will they think of next!
Deborah, the tennis ball is perhaps the most common method
Glenn, you remember those late night benders? :)
Andrew---sometimes you just gotta have the latest gadget
Bob, no idea----google :)
Amy, I want to see pictures of the freezer :)
Alan----on all the time
Craig, I see a fair amount of wiped out walls and posts in garages
John, Marilyn is pretty thin----she should fit in there just fine
Jason----someone is always after a better mouse trap
Pretty creative, Buell. I hadn't thought of something like this. And I saw your answer to May's question and wonder if it would be even more effective if it came on automatically (from an electrical standpoint).
Jason, pretty much like your garage door opener----I think it stays on all the time----I honestly am not sure. This all low voltage stuff so I doubt it consumes much electrical current.
I've seen the tennis ball many, many times. I like the laser much better.
Jim, I would have thought you were a Marilyn type (by the way---I am supposed to be working:)
OK---here is the poop. They are activated with your garage door opener----and deactivate until you open the door again.
Thats pretty cool! Great post, and something that doesnt dangle!
What geeky dope would use a laser beam when he has a Marilyn Monroe available for the job?
Oh, she's photoshopped...
Chris, beware of things that dangle
Jay, blasphemy!
I have this system in my garage and I loved it until the laser started to fade. It is now 1/10 as bright as it was brand new!
Does that thing run on batteries? It's cool, there's no question about that, but what a pain in the ass.
We do the freezer thingy; when it bumps Ooooops time to stop.
And I see you two Mr Charles. This is so fun. My uncle used to go out with her by the way.
Nutsy S. Wallenda,
Paul, intersting----I wonder why it would fade?
Reuben, it plugs in---low voltage---you can see it plugged into the extension cord in the picture :)
Carl and Ceil----I want to see a picture of that freezer :)
Nutsy, well you are just the Forest Gump of squirrels aren't you
Just replaced my opener about a month ago that had one of these. Of course I put it on the wife's side :) She doesn't like it very well, thinks I'm trying to suggest she's too old and can't park by herself... go figure. Kids love it more than anything.
Charlie,
Please do not agitate my assistant.
Cool system Charles, now if I could just get the kids stuff out of the garage so I could use it.
Charles, I have seen the tennis ball, or a 2 x 4 nailed in to the concrete at the spot the tire should roll no further forward but the laser is a new one.
Joshua---yes I could see that being a problem :)
Steve, agitate Nutsy? How would he like to go for a ride in my washing machine?
Jack---lots of people have that problem
Steve, I expect we may see more of them----although you can buy a lot of tennis balls and string for $35.00---plus you can use used tennis balls making it even cheaper.
Ok, I see it now.
Charles- I have one of these laser beams. The garage is so tiny that if you don't get the car in far enough, the door won't close. It does look very "scary" when the car is not in the garage and there is a red dot on the floor of the garage (where the beam hits). Still, I have blessed my husband every day in winter when I have to pull in and wonder if I have made it. I HIGHLY recommend this gadget.
My Dad this with a tennis ball . . . if he was still around (he's in Heaven now), I would have bought this for a Christmas gift. Great idea!!
Valerie----cool
Carla----so you don't need one? :)
great idea. But I think if one is running into things, maybe one should not be driving. LOL
Angelia----this thing is essential for anyone driving into their garage while talking on their cell :)
I'll bet some wife put this up to keep her husband from running to the wall AGAIN!
Barbara, no doubt about it :)