Product invention ideas

[Aarons Air]

one of the smaller/ simpler ideas i've had, is to make up a basic foot brake for grocery carts. My grocerys lot is on an incline. Its a pain keeping the cart from hitting the neighboring car while loading groceries

 

[khryslerkid]

one of the smaller/ simpler ideas i've had, is to make up a basic foot brake for grocery carts. My grocerys lot is on an incline. Its a pain keeping the cart from hitting the neighboring car while loading groceries

Speaking of those, I had an idea to have a machine that would true up the wheels, you know remove the flat spots that they get after awhile. Guess what!

 

[Richard Cranium]

Good question...

Bad answer.

 

[Slap Stick]

Cart wheels have had brakes on them for decades.
I don't mean grocery carts. Look at a McMaster-Carr or Grainger catalog and you'll see. All the grocery cart makers need do is start using them.

 

[Curiousyellow71]

Been through the process several times....international patents too. Learned a LOT, made lots of mistakes, done some stuff right. Getting it to market is a challenge. Can take years.

 

[mopar 3 B]

When working for a company that owned your mind, your ideas were theirs. I gave up after the third draft was patented and went into production and received not even a thank you.

 

[Aarons Air]

View attachment 890477


Been through the process several times....international patents too. Learned a LOT, made lots of mistakes, done some stuff right. Getting it to market is a challenge. Can take years. View attachment 890480

Very impressive !

 

[Curiousyellow71]

If someone can do a international patent for 6k, I would like to know how. Lol. My experience it's closer to 30k, and then the extortion starts in every country....MONTHLY...in some countries. EU does not count as 1 country you have to file in every country and pay their fees. We went international with 3 patent...actually had them 2 in force then had to let them go cause $$$$. Could have bought a new Dodge Demon put race gas in it for the whole year, still been cheaper then dealing with a international patent. Expensive learning experience.

Other countries really just want your money.

US patent 8k-20k depends on the complexity. Canada is similiar to US. That is information from a Patent attorney last week.

 

[Curiousyellow71]

The sad thing.... our patent laws changed to European laws in '12. It used to be when you built something and didn't patent it, you could build and sell it and if was made public you could keeping bulding/selling your product. They changed it so that years later after you invented something (even if you are producing it) someone can patent your product and stop you if you have no protection. This is a over simplification...but Patents are more important then ever now.

 

[66 Sat]

Is this it ?

This is indeed the one! The cheesy video wasn't my work though...

 

[gkent]

Quite often patents just aren't worth the money or effort. For example, I build rotisseries for mainly the Canadian market. I can tell you that although I do quite well, the volume is not worth patent money or effort. HOWEVER, a competitor (a few years back) was touting their balance adjuster as a "patent pending" design. I figured either its bullshit or the guy is an idiot. The volume just isn't there to warrant the investment AND there's nothing wrong with most of the other rotisserie adjusters.

I've also always figured that if I ever came up with a product worth mass marketing I'd do two things: 1) start manufacturing locally under my product name and 2) start manufacturing my own competing product offshore before someone else does. Basically cover the bases so its not worthwhile for someone else to copy you.

 

[GetX'd]

I know a guy who sold an idea through one of those "Idea" companies. They'll find you a buyer for your idea if someone else hasn't thought of it first and has a patent. He made a couple hundred thousand on the triple edge wiper blade idea years ago. Think how much he would have made if he used a patent lawyer. It's all about how much you have to spend and how good your idea is. Could be a flop or it could make you rich.

I've talked to patent lawyers before. It was around six grand for a US patent and about the same for the overseas patent. I'm sure it's more now. One isn't good without the other because the idea will get stolen. I have a couple of ideas and might just use one of the idea companies to sell it. I don't have enough bankroll to use a lawer.

One thing I have done is draw up my ideal, place it in a sealed envelope and mail it to myself. If someone markets it before I do, I can use it in court to prove I had the idea first.

Another thing to do is Google your idea and see if it's out there. Many times I thought I really had something and there it was, already thought of.

 

[steved033]

Over the years i've had ideas for several products that i think many people would want & buy. I have seen commercials for companies that help with patenting and marketing, but have never pursued it. Has anyone here been down this path ? Or actually followed through ?

I worked for a company that was a product development firm. My fiancee and I have our own version of one and do projects here and there for inventors, but tend to stay away from them and concentrate on established businesses needing engineering help. (There's so many crazy/non-funded/dreamers out there) I'm listed on 15 patents, none of them pay me anything, because they were mostly for work done as an employee.

sjd

 

[Curiousyellow71]

There are plenty of crazy ideas. Lol

I am talking new products only... if someone has a patent....the patent office is not going to redo what has already been done. But, once a patent expires its fairgame to anyone.
Unfortunately the only way to stop someone from copying what your doing is a lawsuit because you have a patent they are infringing. When you have a complex product with hundreds if not thousands of hours invested, its foolish to not to try protecting yourself. If someone copies you(including offshore)and tries to sell it in the US.... you can stop them (substantial cost). But...The best part of having a patent is YOU have the right to do whatever you want with your product.

If your talking about lower volumes on a specialized products....I agree, a patent would probably be a waste of money...you have to weigh your risks!

Also...its a no no 2 say" patent pending `without filing a patent. If someone calls them on it...they are SOL.

 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

All this "patent talk" makes me think of one thing. China could give a flying F*&^. They will take a product, half back *** engineer it and there you go. It wont matter what you spent or how hard you worked....

 

[Curiousyellow71]

All this "patent talk" makes me think of one thing. China could give a flying F*&^. They will take a product, half back *** engineer it and there you go. It wont matter what you spent or how hard you worked....

That does not mean it can be sold here if its protected...or any country that you file in for that matter. Unfortunately they will try Foreign patents are really only for big companies....Its Not just China, Brazils law suck too..and others...yep they do whatever the hell they want. But we are fortunate to live where we do with all the protections we have

 

[kiwigtx]

All this "patent talk" makes me think of one thing. China could give a flying F*&^. They will take a product, half back *** engineer it and there you go. It wont matter what you spent or how hard you worked....

As an Electrician, I have to be looking at quality of equipment and parts I use. One brand (as an example) here in NZ has been copied to death. The Chinese even change the name to prevent copyright infringement..."Clipsal" has been copied and became "Kripal" ...."HPM" has been copied and became "HEM" ...same look and similar in many ways, but the quality is shoddy to say the least. New Zealand branded PDL was swallowed up by Schneider Electric and Telemecanique/Crouzet (French) ...and their industrial switches has been mercilessly copie by the Chinese for at least 10 years now.
Most of it is crap.

 

[Curiousyellow71]

 

[SteveSS]

You guys know I'm a geologist but in times of low oil prices, you always have to have a second career. I'm an Industrial Designer. All that means is I take a company's need for a product and give them pretty drawings of three or four different ways to go about it. I also try to cut costs in manufacturing and tooling. I have relationships with factories in China.

What I tell people is to go to me first. Basically I'm like Chip Foose. I do the sketches. Trust me patent drawings don't sell a product. You can pick a local Industrial Design firm if you have deep pockets. THEN, You visit the companies that would be interested in your product. A good way to do this is to get your way into the manufacturer's trade show. You walk around with your drawings making sure they sign a disclosure agreement written by an attorney. Trust me, these companies DESPERATELY WANT new products. If you're not confident in your sales skills, it helps to have a pretty young woman sales assistant walking around with you. Hey, this is real life. If they say yes you can start your manufacturing drawings and get estimates from my sources in China to provide them the products or you let them manufacture and take a percentage of gross sales. Easy peasy. I've seen little guys with booths at trade shows but they get ripped off by China pretty quickly.

I usually work for companies but sometimes for individuals. My clients: Zebco/MotorGuide/Quantum, Bass Pro Shops, Mommy's Helper, Blitz (Aftermarket auto, the infamous red plastic gas can. I swear I did the can not the spout!! The reason that can took over the whole market was I took about $.05 out of the cost of the can. When you're making millions it adds up.) A whole bunch of stuff for the Christian market. Lots of children's books. Too much to remember.

 

[SteveSS]

Here's a famous one. This made millions for Mommy's Helper. It was a nice clean design, easy and inexpensive to manufacture. This went on to be lots of different sizes, colors, and different applications. Believe it or not, baby safety and senior safety are closely related. One company markets this as a shower sex handle. I can't show the ad here. Nothing fancy to patent here. Here's a good story. A guy went to a company with an idea and a lawyer written agreement. The company stole his idea anyway and sold it successfully for 2 years. Turned out the guy was a lawyer and got a big percentage of the company's sales.