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[Leatherface]

...and I wanted to make a prototype. How would I go about getting it mass produced and getting it to market? Do I shop a prototype around to different companies and hope they "buy" my idea (after I patent it of course)?


For example... lets say it's a new type of controller and I had a cool modification that would make controllers MUCH cooler. How would I go about getting from idea to final design? I mean, I'm sure I can slap something together by modding a controller with my desired idea, but that wouldn't "Look" cool. What if I wanted to get something professionally crafted from a design that I made? how do I do that? It's much easier to shop around an idea if it looks the way you invisioned it I assume.

 

[Miguel]

One thing at a time big guy. Work on the name first.

 

[Iceman]

Jeez, yeah.. slow down, Mike Whatever...


Ooh, how about Mike Miike?

 

[android]

Have you been spending your free time down at the local courthouse?

 

[Leatherface]

You guys better get on my friends list quick. I've got big plans!!!

 

[ManDudeChild]

You guys better get on my friends list quick. I've got big plans!!!

Unless your plans also involve: Earth, a giant cannon, four pounds of salted meat, an NES, a $15 million dollar grant, Xenu and a cow, my plans are superior to yours.

 

[ronito]

Unless your plans also involve: Earth, a giant cannon, four pounds of salted meat, an NES, a $15 million dollar grant, Xenu and a cow, my plans are superior to yours.

Dag nab it! And I thought "Surely no one else will think about this."

I shake my fist angrily at you MadDudeChild! Angrily I say!!!

 

[Leatherface]

No one? =_(

 

[McFly]

Make a working prototype. It doesent have to look nice or professional. Buy a good book about patenting stuff. Gather money to patent it. Patent it. Now go out to different companies you think could be interested in it and sell the patent or a license to use the patent (second one would be better but much harder).

Fredi

 

[Leatherface]

Make a working prototype. It doesent have to look nice or professional. Buy a good book about patenting stuff. Gather money to patent it. Patent it. Now go out to different companies you think could be interested in it and sell the patent or a license to use the patent (second one would be better but much harder).

Fredi

Exactly what I thought. Thanks for the tip.

 

[pnjtony]

You should check with the US patent office and make sure your "invention/technology is unique. Then draw up the plans for it and theories or whatever it'll entail and get em dated by a notery.

 

[Deleted member 4784]

As has already been said, GET A PATENT before all else. Worry about the details later. :lol

 

[Leatherface]

Yeah. I figured as much. I'm looking into that asap. I hear this stuff can get pretty confusing though. Is there some sort of agency that can help me look stuff up and do this right or am i pretty much on my own?

 

[bionic77]

Make a working prototype. It doesent have to look nice or professional. Buy a good book about patenting stuff. Gather money to patent it. Patent it. Now go out to different companies you think could be interested in it and sell the patent or a license to use the patent (second one would be better but much harder).

Fredi

Be careful of some firms that will help you try and get a patent. Some of them are incredibly fraudelent. I forget the name of the firm, but the one with the caveman commercial that comes on late at night is one of the worst. One case I know of they literally cost some poor old lady hundreds of thousands of dollars (at the least).

If you are going to go to a firm make sure it is reputable first.

 

[Ghost]

Tell me your idea and i'll file it in the name of Douchebag McGroin for you.

 

[Leatherface]

Tell me your idea and i'll file it in the name of Douchebag McGroin for you.

lol. that may not be what my real name will be, but my next guild wars character for sure. =P

 

[Drexon]

Hehe, I'm in the same seat as you now. I have a big idea that I _know_ (well, don't we all) will sell well and has a _lot_ of potential for evolution. Just an hour ago I joined a (trustworthy) invention forum thingy, that'll help me with patenting, finansing for a potential market research and basically help with all I need to know to make this work. From the x number of ppl I completely trust I've heard nothing but good things about this invention.

God, I'm so hyped.. hate that. As an inventor you have to have patience, and I've stated before that I'm an impatient guy that wants everything at the drop of an heartbeat. Give me money, now! ^^;

Anyways, from one inventor to another, good luck out there. I'm to scurry off to some swedish online book reseller and look up some invention / patent taking book, sweden has a _lot_ of inventors it turns out. We even have a yearly award for ~$50.000 for best invention, pretty cewl but I don't think my invention'll 'drastically' change the world so to speak.

 

[=W=]

Careful with that whole 'invention' thing...

I mean...

what happens if it actually works?

 

[Leatherface]

 

[Drexon]

If it works (as in, it's a success) I get rich and take all my friends to japan, we have a ball, and then I live out my life getting gradually greedier, spamming the forums that you're all filthy worms... and then I haven't gotten any further.

Good, no?

 

[=W=]

 

[Amused_To_Death]

How did you come up with this invention?

Were you employed or attending college at the time of invention? If so, you may not be able to file without their approval/permission. You may be better off having their legal dept. file for you.

If you solely came up with this invention, rasie some money and hire a patent attorney, there are so many things that you will miss if you file on your own. Also, if you have showed your invention or told anyone about it, you have 12 months from the first disclosure to file or you're up the creek.

Patenting your design may be 1/10th of your battle. Even if you get a patent - thousands of dollars and years later - you have to put something together and showcase your product to a company that is willing to take the risk and invest in your idea unless you're planning on starting your own business. Will you have the money to defend your patent if someone steals your idea once you start showcasing it?

 

[bud]

Exactly what I thought. Thanks for the tip.

Then why'd you ask?

 

[Leatherface]

How did you come up with this invention?

Were you employed or attending college at the time of invention? If so, you may not be able to file without their approval/permission. You may be better off having their legal dept. file for you.

If you solely came up with this invention, rasie some money and hire a patent attorney, there are so many things that you will miss if you file on your own. Also, if you have showed your invention or told anyone about it, you have 12 months from the first disclosure to file or you're up the creek.

Patenting your design may be 1/10th of your battle. Even if you get a patent - thousands of dollars and years later - you have to put something together and showcase your product to a company that is willing to take the risk and invest in your idea unless you're planning on starting your own business. Will you have the money to defend your patent if someone steals your idea once you start showcasing it?

You're a glass half empy guy aren't you? =_(

 

[Nerevar]

you do realize it usually takes on the order of 3-4 years to be issued a patent for something, correct?

 

[argon]

...and I wanted to make a prototype. How would I go about getting it mass produced and getting it to market? Do I shop a prototype around to different companies and hope they "buy" my idea (after I patent it of course)?


For example... lets say it's a new type of controller and I had a cool modification that would make controllers MUCH cooler. How would I go about getting from idea to final design? I mean, I'm sure I can slap something together by modding a controller with my desired idea, but that wouldn't "Look" cool. What if I wanted to get something professionally crafted from a design that I made? how do I do that? It's much easier to shop around an idea if it looks the way you invisioned it I assume.

Not sure, but here's my guess:

Concept/Prototype stage: talk to a mechanical engineer and have him create a blueprint for your design. An electrical engineer or computer scientist is probably necessary for the hardware logic and firmware.

Mass production: talk to an industrial engineer & work out a contract with a fabrication plant.

The patent idea is good but only as a supplement to actually getting your product out the door. It may take 4 years to receive an approved patent, but as long as you send in a patent application for it before mass production, you can put the "patent pending" label on the product to warn others not to copy your idea. As far as I know, an approved patent is retroactive from the application date.

 

[Leatherface]

Drex your pm space is full.

Argon- thanks for the pointers. Much appreciated.

 

[Synth_floyd]

Tell me your idea and i'll file it in the name of Douchebag McGroin for you.

I prefer the nom de guerre Douchie McDouche.

 

[Amused_To_Death]

You're a glass half empy guy aren't you? =_(

Not really, but I've been there before and I can tell you it's not as easy as it seems.

 

[Drexon]

Leather> Empty now. Can't believe they only allow 50 messages...

And yah, it's a long hard way to realisation from an idea, especially if you're just an individual. Hopefulle I'll come through fine.

 

[Leatherface]

Not really, but I've been there before and I can tell you it's not as easy as it seems.

But it didn't seem easy to begin with!! =_( =o

 

[Shogmaster]

Electronics utility patents can cost easily up to $10,000 so save up.

 

[Boogie]

One thing at a time big guy. Work on the name first.

The Gruntmaster 9000.