You have an idea for an invention... what next?

Dave!

Hey folks,

I'm always thinking of ideas for products that could be very useful (no I will not share ), and that I'd like to be able to produce and sell. So far most of them have come to nothing, I've realised are stupid, or have already been created, but I think I've got quite a good idea now, and I was wondering if anyone's ever thought of an idea for something, and ended up selling it?

I just don't really know how to go about it... what would I do next? I have the idea, should I start drawing plans now? Is there companies that would help with the building process (it's only small)? My dad said that most people would make the prototype themselves, which makes sense.

When do I patent it, also? Do I do the idea, the drawings, the finished product -- what?

Thanks folks

I've googled, but couldn't find much useful info.

biko

Did you talk to http://www.patentsoffice.ie/ ? They should be able to help but generally you need to have finished drawings of the product. You cannot patent an idea without anything physical to present.

Vikings

http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aainventionintomoney.htm

All you'll need, in one google word. For shame.

rubadub

biko wrote:

You cannot patent an idea without anything physical to present.

I think the drawings count as physical. I have done diagramatic drawings with info for patents before. In the Uk they have a non-profit agency to help inventors. I dont think there is any here. The biggest worry is people stealing the idea, you go to a company with it, they say no and then release it or something similar. This agency helps stop that, and will give money up front for the costly patent and production, like a honest venture capitalist who will not screw you. I think the vacuum cleaner guy Dyson is involved.

BTW most good ideas are already patented, usually the simpler the better.

Hobbes

biko wrote:

You cannot patent an idea without anything physical to present.

That is not actually true. As long as your idea is unique and well detailed it is patentable.

Suggestion though is to write out your idea in detail and then search in detail for anything matching (use google).

If you find similar things but believe yours improves on it or is unique you have to detail your research and explain why your idea is patentable vs what exists.

Siogfinsceal

yup you need to go to the patents office. do it before you approach a company as you really dont want a company saying no and then stealing your idea (happened to a mate).

and hobbes is right - this is the definition of a patent - "In order to be eligible for the grant of a valid patent the invention must be new, involve an inventive step and be capable of industrial application."
You should try this website its great

http://www.oasis.gov.ie/employment/starting_a_business/starting_up_a_business_in_ireland.html?search=starting+company

el tel

You do not necessarily need a prototype but it is very helpful to the person whom you use to write your patent application. Detailed drawings are essential though as is a very clear knowledege of how the invention works and how it solves the problem it is supposed to overcome.

What you should do is an initial keyword search using the European Patents Office database 'Espacenet'
http://ep.espacenet.com/search97cgi/s97_cgi.exe?Action=FormGen&Template=ep/EN/home.hts
to see what 'prior art' patents exist. It is likely something will exist or will at least be similar. If you don't find the same thing you have invented or if your invention has features that none of the results from the search have (even in combination), your invention may well be patentable.



Good luck.

Blisterman

Can you patent an improvement on an existing invention, rather than a new invention?

el tel

Blisterman wrote:

Can you patent an improvement on an existing invention, rather than a new invention?

Blisterman, you can but this is where the "inventive step" requirement comes in. An improvement must be non-obvious to a person who is skilled in the particular area of technology to which the invention in question relates. An examiner will determine this and a patent attorney will try to work around these findings to get a patent granted.

If you want to get a patent merely for the sake of it (just like buying a plot of land on the moon - i.e. to frame and put on your wall) you can cobble together some old sh1te, bring it to the patents office and apply for an Irish Short term patent. They aren't examined and as long as the official requirements (formatting etc) are met it should be granted within a year or so. It only costs about €60 to do.

Dempsey

I refer to the surf board case for that....

el tel probably knows it in detail