Before you do anything with that great idea of yours, you really, really need to spend the time and/or money to do a patent search. If you don't, chances are you'll be very sorry you didn't (because, as I've often said, "if you've thought of it, a thousand other people have, too." It's just a matter of who "moves" on it first.).
You can either pay a patent attorney to do this (even if you don't end up hiring him/her, they have a much more thorough database than is available elsewhere), or you can search every search engine, every online store that may carry your product, offline retail stores, etc. Of course, you'll have to think of every imaginable name your product could have, and search accordingly.
Also, it's important to note that patent attorneys want you to infringe on their client's patents. Some tricky guys and gals purposely name their products something wacky so that you won't be able to find their patent while doing your search. Then, once you come out with yours, they're ON you! Thankfully, this doesn't happen all the time, but it definitely does happen. So, take your time and do it thoroughly, or pay an attorney to do it for you.
Remember this, too: if you do happen to find your great idea already out there (you'd just not seen it before, because of poor marketing on their part, or whatever), don't be discouraged. If you still love the idea, you can make it even better than they have. Think of additions you can make, or things that would make it more user-friendly. Then, start putting your drawings and/or prototypes together.
Monday, July 14, 2008
RAPID PROTOTYPING
Hey, I thought since today was a day I was waiting on a quote from a rapid prototyper (Dan, at Fusion Engineering), it might be a good idea to mention rapid protyping and what it is.
Well, the name pretty much sums it up, of course, but more to the point: it's a wonderful, fast, cost-effective way to get a working prototype of your invention (and, if you're like me, and your sewing, engineering or construction abilities are lame, at best), they come in awfully handy.
Accelerated Technologies, another rapid prototyper, defines rapid prototyping this way: The obvious benefit of rapid prototyping is speed. However, working closely with product development professionals, Accelerated Technologies has found that the real value of the rapid prototype is that it quickly delivers a better design communication tool.
The "real", physical prototype quickly and clearly communicates all aspects of a design. Eliminating ambiguity, rapid prototyping facilitates the early detection and correction of design flaws.
In its simplest form, the benefit of rapid prototyping is confidence in the integrity of the design. This confidence is best expressed as the peace-of-mind that results from a design that is completed on time and correctly.
Furthermore, rapid prototyping techniques can deliver parts in spec resins and spec alloys that allow for real world testing, bridge to production and short-run production.
It is important to note that rapid prototyping has become a very loosely used term to define any process that reduces the time to receive a prototype. Machining, casting and molding techniques have all been loosely grouped under the rapid prototyping umbrella.
But, the true definition of rapid prototyping is those technologies that additively "grow" a design.
So, get on it! Make your drawings (or shoot a short video of your working prototype, like I did), get some quotes, and get 'er done!
Well, the name pretty much sums it up, of course, but more to the point: it's a wonderful, fast, cost-effective way to get a working prototype of your invention (and, if you're like me, and your sewing, engineering or construction abilities are lame, at best), they come in awfully handy.
Accelerated Technologies, another rapid prototyper, defines rapid prototyping this way: The obvious benefit of rapid prototyping is speed. However, working closely with product development professionals, Accelerated Technologies has found that the real value of the rapid prototype is that it quickly delivers a better design communication tool.
The "real", physical prototype quickly and clearly communicates all aspects of a design. Eliminating ambiguity, rapid prototyping facilitates the early detection and correction of design flaws.
In its simplest form, the benefit of rapid prototyping is confidence in the integrity of the design. This confidence is best expressed as the peace-of-mind that results from a design that is completed on time and correctly.
Furthermore, rapid prototyping techniques can deliver parts in spec resins and spec alloys that allow for real world testing, bridge to production and short-run production.
It is important to note that rapid prototyping has become a very loosely used term to define any process that reduces the time to receive a prototype. Machining, casting and molding techniques have all been loosely grouped under the rapid prototyping umbrella.
But, the true definition of rapid prototyping is those technologies that additively "grow" a design.
So, get on it! Make your drawings (or shoot a short video of your working prototype, like I did), get some quotes, and get 'er done!
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