Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Designing a prototype

  • 28-04-2010 11:33am
    #1
    Mairead1975
    Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭


    Hi

    I have an idea for a product. Ive gone through the patent website and I dont see anything similar. However the drawings of similar products online are quite complex and I need a specialist to draft it.

    It's a plastic object. I am not from an engineering background.
    I need someone to draft a design or prototype of the product so I can submit it and get it patented.

    I guess it's a plastics engineer I'd need...can anyone recommend one to do a design on paper for patenting or am on the right track?
    Bit of an amatuer at this, but I reckon it's a great idea!
    M


Comments

  • #2
    antoinolachtnai
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,815 ✭✭✭antoinolachtnai


    More likely an industrial designer. But I would have a chat with a patent attorney first.

    The reason is this.

    You only want to do the minimum of work to get the patent initially.

    Can you not build a prototype out of wood, or bits of string, or something? This could form an adequate basis to explain the invention to the patent attorney and have him draft the patent. (This will probably cost thousands.)

    Once you have applied for the patent, if it's a strong claim (and a good attorney should be able to tell you this), one avenue would be to go to a manufacturers and look for them to license the thing and bring it forward through production.

    Your risk would be minimised - only the cost of the prototype + the cost of the initial patent, providing you manage to licence the thing before further patent fees are required. On the other hand, your return might be less than if you did all the manufacturing and marketing.

    Remember, it is not the design as a whole you would be patenting. It would be the specific 'novel step' which makes it an innovation. The drawings primarily have to illustrate this point. They aren't required to serve as engineering or manufacturing drawings.

    You don't need to build a working prototype to patent your process (see http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/Perpetual_Motion.htm for example) but I'd advise you do.


Advertisement