I have an invention

[curryman]

Sorry I haven't been around for a while chaps,
I've been busy with my new little project.
It's like this:
I seem to have thought of a little gadget that would considerably help with the laying of a Patio.
No i'm not taking the piss, this little gem is brilliant and i've looked around all the big D.I.Y Stores and browsed the net to see if there is anything on the market that is similar, and guess what? - NOTHING.
Now my question is this. WHAT THE **** DO I DO NOW??

Does anybody have any experience with inventions?
Do I approach a big diy manufacturer or chain.
Do i patent the device
WHAT I just haven't a clue.

[Tommyknocker]

Patent the puppy, then approach the big chains to mass produce for a percentage of the profits. Your first step is to hire an attorney who specializes in patents.

[VCDHunter]

Isn't there a government advert for this kind of thing ? Says "if you have a bright idea phone this number".

[curryman]

VCD Said "Isn't there a government advert for this kind of thing ? Says "if you have a bright idea phone this number".


I'll go browse for the number right now, If i make a million i'll donate 10% to Baldrick

[northcat_8]

You need to make a proto-type, make it work like you want it to. You can either build it yourself or pay someone else to build it...kind of depends on what it is made of and how complicated it is to make.
Patent it.
Then approach a company like Craftsman or Stanley or the like, about producing it.

[Craig Tucker]

Give Trevor Bayliss a ring

[curryman]

It's not something i could put together myself, so it's pay someone i suppose but then i'm letting the cat out of the bag, or is this where the patent comes in?

This is better than any windup Radio - this is possibly going to change the way you view your Patio

[Tommyknocker]

Prototype my behind. Get that lawyer, draw up your plans, and keep them in a safe place. The only patent that would ever require a working model in the U.S. is a perpetual motion machine, the last time I checked.

[thecoalman]

Have you tried the patent office website, I did some research on copyrighting and found a ton of information. I would assume that it would be the same for patents.

I know one thing if you really think it's a good invention be very careful who you trust with your info. I saw this on a news program a few years ago; ever see the thing you hang bacon from in the microwave. The idea came from a little girl, her father made one up and patented the idea. Think there protected right? Well some large company copied it and or changed it just enough so that it wasn't exactly like the original and marketed it before they could get financial backing for their idea. If I remeber correctly it was a company they approached about producing the item for them. The father and daughter sued but due to the fact that they had no where near the resources of the large company they had no chance. Definitley see a lawyer before showing anyone your idea.

[Faustus]

Yeah get a Patent, most of the places that advertise to "help you create and patent your ideas!" are really just rip offs. Find a lawyer.

[Doramius]

It's not something i could put together myself, so it's pay someone i suppose but then i'm letting the cat out of the bag, or is this where the patent comes in?

This is better than any windup Radio - this is possibly going to change the way you view your Patio

My mother has a pool cover patent and my father has a patent that he's waiting back on. The first step is to patent the idea, once you have your patent licensed, then make your prototype. You use you patent to find an engineering company to invest in it, so there isn't too much of your own cost involved. The company makes your prototype and then helps you to market it. They make money off of the sales, while you make money of of the licensing of the patent. A patent lawyer is also a good idea, but before you push forward on it, do this first.

If you've ever wondered why so many things that just come out on the market are really about 10-20 years old, this is the main reason. Design your item on paper, make the same thing again as a copy 'but not a photocopy'. It must be made by hand, like your original. Then make your photocopies. The original and a photocopy should be placed in a sealed and sturdy envelope and then mail it to yourself, certified. Do not open the envelope once you receive it, put it in a safe or safety deposit box. It's only for use to be opened by a judge in a court of law if ever there is a dipute about you creating the patent first. After a year, you send a photocopy to have it patented. You keep your original hand copy. Now your back is completely covered. If someone saw your patent for the first time when you mailed in your photocopy and tried to put a copy of it at the same time in their own name, you can legally dispute it with the original that's been locked away for a year in a safe deposit box. Once the legal issue is resolved (if one happens) then you have a certified court file that says it's your design and nobody can dispute that same issue again.

[VCDHunter]

VCD Said "Isn't there a government advert for this kind of thing ? Says "if you have a bright idea phone this number".


I'll go browse for the number right now, If i make a million i'll donate 10% to Baldrick

Why the hell you didn't just invent something to help you quote i'll never know

[Faustus]

VCD Said "Isn't there a government advert for this kind of thing ? Says "if you have a bright idea phone this number".


I'll go browse for the number right now, If i make a million i'll donate 10% to Baldrick

Why the hell you didn't just invent something to help you quote i'll never know

[housepig]

The original and a photocopy should be placed in a sealed and sturdy envelope and then mail it to yourself, certified....

otherwise known as the "poor man's copyright". it doesn't stand up in court.

as someone who used to do this for a living, my first suggestion is to find someone who can do a patent search for you. If they say they will do a computerized search for you, tell them to **** off and find someone who will search the paper records as well*. this person does not have to be an attorney; at least in the U.S., any schmuck can do patent searches.

have them do a patentability search for you. a basic one used to run about $300-500. (it's been about 6 years since I've been doing it, prices have probably risen a bit). if you go to a patent attorney, they'll do the same thing, but they'll tack on $1,000 on top for farming it out to someone like me (a high-school graduate with no tech training per se).

what you should get back from someone is a report and copies of references that have bearing on your device. most likely, you will get 3 or 4 at least that are "killers" - ie, it's been done before. if not, you can go about starting the patent process.

( * many, many patents are coming out these days that are utterly worthless, because the the computer records were checked but the paper was not - and the paper records go back about 180 years older than the computer records..... )

[Doramius]

The original and a photocopy should be placed in a sealed and sturdy envelope and then mail it to yourself, certified....

otherwise known as the "poor man's copyright". it doesn't stand up in court.

It does when you have a certified & sealed envelope with a federal postmark on it. The postmark will be before the date of anyone elses patent if they try to copy your patent from the information you sent to the patent office one year later. Ask Ron Popeil.

as someone who used to do this for a living, my first suggestion is to find someone who can do a patent search for you. If they say they will do a computerized search for you, tell them to **** off and find someone who will search the paper records as well*. this person does not have to be an attorney; at least in the U.S., any schmuck can do patent searches.

Very good idea. probably best to do this during the time after you mailed your idea back to yourself. Though unintentional, many people think of the same thing without realizing it. Doing a paper patent search is a good approach to make sure you don't get slammed into the ground by someone else just because you had the same thought, only he had it first.

[DereX888]

...and if your idea is really worth alot you better look over your shoulder all the time.
Most of inventions were stolen from poor inventors by slickier and richer ******** (like Bell or Edison to name the most famous) who had more 'power of their bank account' to be credited for such invention.

[Doramius]

...and if your idea is really worth alot you better look over your shoulder all the time.
Most of inventions were stolen from poor inventors by slickier and richer ******** (like Bell or Edison to name the most famous) who had more 'power of their bank account' to be credited for such invention.

I agree. Edison had huge bouts against Tesla, but Tesla was a very cautious man, though eccentric, and was able to keep his patents without being bullied.

[Alan69]

No i'm not taking the piss, this little gem is brilliant and i've looked around all the big D.I.Y Stores and browsed the net to see if there is anything on the market that is similar, and guess what? - NOTHING.

Note that market feasability for this should be assessed first. It would have to be extremely cheap to sell to individuals, most only do a patio once a lifetime if at all. May still sell to contractors etc if it's more expensive, but smaller market.

Remember that a patent only gives you the right to sue. You have to sue for it to be of any use. So if you aren't going to make $2 million or so then it isn't worth getting one, that's about what it takes to have enough to sue against a corporation and have any left over for you later. (Why make $1 ml then give it all to your lawyer?) Less than that and it's better to just forget the patent since you can't afford to protect it. Then just make your product, and sell as many as you can as fast as you can..

Can be done fairly cheaply though. Realize you're the most motivated person, do the patent search yourself before you even take it anywhere..

Search on everything you can think of, and keep in mind that a very different seeming patent can still crush yours. Take for instance automatic paving equipment. Very different scale, but could easily toss yours out by prior art if it's too similar a process just different terms or scale. But paying for it won't protect you much better, you're far more motivated than a stranger..

Alan

[lordsmurf]

The Invention Submission Corporation ... their stupid ad is stuck in my head.

[thecoalman]

More like the "Take Your Money and Run Coporation". I could here the salesman now "Air conditioners for Eskimoes that's a great idea, give us $1000.00 and we'll market it for you."

[Capmaster]

The original and a photocopy should be placed in a sealed and sturdy envelope and then mail it to yourself, certified....

otherwise known as the "poor man's copyright". it doesn't stand up in court.

It does when you have a certified & sealed envelope with a federal postmark on it. The postmark will be before the date of anyone elses patent if they try to copy your patent from the information you sent to the patent office one year later. Ask Ron Popeil.

as someone who used to do this for a living, my first suggestion is to find someone who can do a patent search for you. If they say they will do a computerized search for you, tell them to **** off and find someone who will search the paper records as well*. this person does not have to be an attorney; at least in the U.S., any schmuck can do patent searches.

Very good idea. probably best to do this during the time after you mailed your idea back to yourself. Though unintentional, many people think of the same thing without realizing it. Doing a paper patent search is a good approach to make sure you don't get slammed into the ground by someone else just because you had the same thought, only he had it first.

While you're waiting for the patent search, draw up a schematic of the device with a little summary on a single page. Go get it notarized, or go to your bank and get a signature guarantee, with the date. Then put it in a safe deposit box until the patent is awarded.

This step protects your "proof of prior knowledge", it's cheap, and may save you a fortune in the future

[curryman]

Oh, Now I really feel stupid.

happened to be browsing in the DIY store today as i'm in the middle of decorating my dining room and came across my device in a slightly different form but close enough to make me realise that all my brain racking was for **** ALL!.
The reason i never found it before is it's marketed as a totally different device for a totally different use.
The best i've got here is "Good improvisation Curryman"
Well pissed off and feeling a little embarassed is an understatement, but thanks to you all for your help and advice.
I could tell you what it is now but like i said, I'm allready feeling down and don't need you lot laughing at me

[Doramius]

I agree, a little, with that CAP on using a notary, but it risks someone else seeing the patent. Even if for such a short amount of time. That's why you have sealed master mailed back to yourself. You can present a key to a judge and have only him open the package and it still has a Federal stamp of a date.

[Doramius]

Oh, Now I really feel stupid.

happened to be browsing in the DIY store today as i'm in the middle of decorating my dining room and came across my device in a slightly different form but close enough to make me realise that all my brain racking was for **** ALL!.
The reason i never found it before is it's marketed as a totally different device for a totally different use.
The best i've got here is "Good improvisation Curryman"
Well pissed off and feeling a little embarassed is an understatement, but thanks to you all for your help and advice.
I could tell you what it is now but like i said, I'm allready feeling down and don't need you lot laughing at me

Don't worry. We all laugh at you anyway.

[housepig]

Oh, Now I really feel stupid.

well, stop it. you're in great company.

I couldn't even tell you how many patent searches I did where I thought "damn, this is cool - and I've never seen it at (whatever store you'd go to to find one of them)". Saw tons of great products & gadgets that I'd buy in a minute.

15 minutes later, with a dozen killer patents in my hands, I was reduced to wondering "how can such a good idea fail to find effective marketing?"

I've done it myself - thought of something, jotted down the basics, went in to the office and came out with 10 different variations on my idea... and most of my friends would do the same. I'd get a call "hey housepig, I've got a great idea!"

"okay, shoot, I'll go look it up."

"riding vacuum cleaners!"

put my hand over the phone, call out to a friend who had an encyclopediac knowledge of the office. "hey Donald - riding vacuum cleaners?"

Donald : "class 150, subclass 210 and 211. it's been done."

repeat every other day for 10 years.