j1mb0b1 Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Today I have just come up with a good invention while I was doing some work in the garden, I have not seen them about before anywhere and i really dont think anyone has come up with it yet, i think they would sell like hot cakes in DIY stores But what to do next design, making a prototype ? and getting the thing out there I have no idea in any of them can anyone point me in the right direction ? Ps dont ask me what it is because iam not telling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 You need to patent it. Look into the patent office and how to patent an item. Once you have the patent pending you can then move onto making prototypes and marketing the item to Sugar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike3.0 Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Is it a spade ? Your too late : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j1mb0b1 Posted June 27, 2009 Author Share Posted June 27, 2009 Is it a spade ? Your too late : ) Dam yes it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 A patent can be expensive. What you need to do first is put a design on paper. Map out costs to make a prototype, and then the costs to manufacture,produce. That is the first step you want to do. Then you need to speak to a solicitor about patenting your idea/design/product and the best routes to go from there. Most will offer a free first consultation. It can be a long process but it will be worth it in the end. Or you can do the above and go on Dragons den http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendor Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Either of the above but they are not quite right. There are some great intro sites especially the Patent Office but you must remember not to disclose the idea unless under a confidentiality agreement. http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/patent/p-about/p-advice/p-advice-inventor.htm Do some more research and then speak to an Intellectual Property professional such as a Patent Agent or Attorney. You can check out European (UK) patents online for free http://ep.espacenet.com/?locale=en_EP TBH - unless you have a superb idea you should reckon on spending a lot of money before you get anywhere close to seeing someone who would take the idea up or invest in it. I have been designing products for a living for twenty five years and there are very few people out there that make it rich and lots of people who will put their hand in your pocket along the way. I have also got many patents. PM me if you want some good contacts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl_S Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Wow extendor. I know where to come then when I empty my ideas bucket out. Good luck Jimbob. An inventor is a role I covet very much indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Have you googled for it mate ? I'm sure you have but my mate at work comes up with some great ideas, but he's always been beaten to it. I thought my "Wankerchief" (tissues for teenage boys) was unique, but no, there's already a website Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professor Kenny Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Jimbob, as well as Google check out http://www.halfbakery.com - there are loads of good ideas on there, it's like a forum - if anyone's suggested anything even remotely similar on there, people will almost certainly have told them (usually with links) if there's anything close to it available on the market. Besides that, you might get an idea of a way to refine your invention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biguns Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Approach the dragons my cousin won over 80 grand on the junior dragons den for his idea and he was just 17 the lucky sod, never manufactured his idea as one of the dragons took him on to teach him about business first but he did patent it. he's minted now and good luck to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Shane_ Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 what is your invention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n boost Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 what is your invention LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j1mb0b1 Posted June 28, 2009 Author Share Posted June 28, 2009 Thanks for all the great info guys will see what I can do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 Either of the above but they are not quite right. There are some great intro sites especially the Patent Office but you must remember not to disclose the idea unless under a confidentiality agreement. http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/patent/p-about/p-advice/p-advice-inventor.htm Do some more research and then speak to an Intellectual Property professional such as a Patent Agent or Attorney. You can check out European (UK) patents online for free http://ep.espacenet.com/?locale=en_EP TBH - unless you have a superb idea you should reckon on spending a lot of money before you get anywhere close to seeing someone who would take the idea up or invest in it. I have been designing products for a living for twenty five years and there are very few people out there that make it rich and lots of people who will put their hand in your pocket along the way. I have also got many patents. PM me if you want some good contacts. Nice post. I thoroughly agree with the bolded section too. Back in 1990, I lost a few quid to a compamy who were going to *help* market my product in the USA. I was young and foolish and gullible. But now I'm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl_S Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 Now you are old, boorish, and huggable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 Now you are old, boorish, and huggable? Exactly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Or you could bring it to our company. We're ProductsUK, and will help you from confidentiality agreement, patents, prototypes, samples, packaging, manufacturing and into the market. But be warned any new product takes a long time and lots of money to get off the ground. I know, as I've been there! PM me if you'd like some more information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Or you could bring it to our company. We're ProductsUK, and will help you from confidentiality agreement, patents, prototypes, samples, packaging, manufacturing and into the market. But be warned any new product takes a long time and lots of money to get off the ground. I know, as I've been there! PM me if you'd like some more information. dammit, wish I had known that.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendor Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 ProductsUK, . Is this you -http://www.productsuk.com We get loads of inventors coming to us every year. Each and every single one of them has the best invention in the world. After we have done a prior art search, market search and a feasibility study 90% are scrapped. The remaining 10% usually outstrip the inventors ability to pay for them. On a rare occassion you get an invention which has novelty, has a market and can be manufactured economically and will create profit for everyone else involved. They get developed. An inventor is almost certainly going to need someone to take the product into the market (unless they CAN do it themselves) and that is where the big money is spent. There are an enormous amount of costs in promoting a product (advertising, distribution, replenishment and brand presense) which have to be considered. Now imagine you are a one product company with no history, no marketing and no distribution and no presense on the shelves - what will encourage B+Q (for example) to take on that product and give it premium shelf space (usually end of aisle) so you can make a few quid. Normally nothing. The inventor has to then consider adding a distributor in the chain and they will also want their cut as well. My advise is before you start planning your retirement on the beach under the palm trees you need to put in an awful lot of research and time and then sit back and take a long hard look at how much it will cost, what your risks are and what your likely chance of success is based on your ability and resources (time and money). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Yes, unfortunately that is the old website, which is about 2 years old. I will be redesigning, and adding all our new wording to it quite shortly. I'm glad you reminded me, as it happens, because I need to speak to the MD about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Or you could look at getting the patent etc and licence it out to a manufaturer who already has a route to market. This way you would receive a royalty etc, but you might sell milljions Rodney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Or you could look at getting the patent etc and licence it out to a manufaturer who already has a route to market. This way you would receive a royalty etc, but you might sell milljions Rodney. Been there and tried that too. That's no where near as easy as you may think. It's best to go for it yourself. At least that way you can keep control over the finished product. Just look at the 'invention' of the clockwork radio, for example. That was someone else's invention that a now famous 'personality' took over and made it out to his own, and the rest is history. So be very careful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendor Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 There are very few companies out there wanting to pay loads of royalties to develop an unknown product, buy all the tooling and control the manufacture of the parts, put it through all the mandatory testing (lots of), then design and develop the packaging, distribute, advertise/market and then deal with all the end of life directives etc etc. It is not easy to sell an idea and live off the royalties. It has to be an absolutely fantastic idea that identifies and solves a very well defined need for a significant number of people. May I also add that a patent may be worthless unless you have enough money to enforce it. If you almost bankrupt yourself getting the patent what use is it if you cant stop the copiers. In our legal system you have to chase the other party and that costs money - lots. Any lawyer will only give you odds of 50% because it depends on the Judges interpretation of the evidense and being human they also get it wrong. Dont let this put you off. All I am trying to do is tell the full story. Make sure you go into it with eyes open and speak to a professional as early as possible and ask all the difficult questions at day one. eg. 1. How successful is the professional offering advise. 2. How much will it cost me to define the idea and protect it 3. What routes can I take to demonstrate the idea to an interested party and how much will each cost. In return they should ask you. 4. Can you afford to lose the money you will speculate. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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