Prototyping Your Invention

[tony.fulford]

Prototyping Your Invention

by tony.fulford » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:35 am

tony.fulford

Green Belt

 

Posts: 160

Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:04 pm

You are an inventor with an idea and you understand your invention and can visualize the resulting product, but:

Will it really work?

If it is other than a static (having no motion) design, the answer is probably; I really don't know!

Can potential investors or licensees understand your product?

If it is other than a static (having no motion) design, the answer is NO!

So, I think it is clear that, in most cases, you need a prototype. Now, if you have further doubts, go to the USPTO patent search site:

http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-adv.htm

Copy the following:

ttl/"electric bicycle"

and paste it into the Query box and then click the Search button. Select patent number 7,314,109. Now, read the Abstract and the Claims. Can you visualize what the resulting product will look like and how it will function? Now, go back to the top and click on Images. On the left side, click on Drawings and go through the 7 pages of drawings. Can you visualize what the resulting product will look like and how it will function? I think you now better understand why you need a prototype for many inventions. While you are there, do a few more searches and go through the same process outlined above.

While most manufacturers familiar with the area of your idea/invention may be able to visualize and understand your idea/invention without a prototype; Investors will not! So, if you are looking for investors, you will need a prototype.

Now, the question is; Do I build the prototype myself or engage a company to build it for me? Only you can answer that question. It depends on how complicated the idea/invention is and your skills. For most of us, it is best to engage someone else. So, where do we find someone to build a prototype? Start by going to:

ThomasNet

Once there, do a simple search on prototype. You will find there are over a hundred categories and thousands of companies that do prototyping. Select a catagory and go through the companies. You can narrow your search results by entering additional search arguments, e.g., plastic prototype if you want a prototype made of plastic.

Another good source is:

INVENTORS DIGEST magazine CLASSIFIEDS

An initial alternative to a prototype is to do a 3D CAD model of your idea/invention. For a FREE program, take a look at:

Google SketchUp

Now, I must confess, I have never produced or had a prototype produced for any of my ideas/inventions. Primarily, because I never look for investors and because I am not intelligent enough to come up with complicated ideas/inventions. I exclusively do licensing agreements with companies that come to me for ideas/inventions and manufacturers that are familiar with the area of my ideas/inventions. Although I would welcome them, I have never had investors come to me wanting ideas/inventions.

I hope mrbach (Carl Bachellier), mojo62, and others will join in this topic and share their knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm to round it out and make it interesting for the audience here at InventorSpot.

Last edited by tony.fulford on Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:01 am, edited 8 times in total.

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[mojo62]

by mojo62 » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:56 am

mojo62

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Posts: 1101

Joined: Tue May 08, 2007 4:54 pm

Location: Texas

I would define "static". Most people identify this word with electricity.

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[mojo62]

by mojo62 » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:19 am

mojo62

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Posts: 1101

Joined: Tue May 08, 2007 4:54 pm

Location: Texas

I would define "static". Most people identify this word with electricity.

(having no motion)

Thanks for the edit!

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[tony.fulford]

by tony.fulford » Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:48 am

tony.fulford

Green Belt

 

Posts: 160

Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:04 pm

mojo62

Help me out here!

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