Inventor-Links - Avoid scams, do it right

Inventor Links... Resources to help inventors succeed and avoid mistakes, scams, unnecessary expenses, and problems.

Find the Right Information

Finding the right information at the right time can make the difference between success and failure. Below we have listed a number of organizations and associations that you may find beneficial as you continue to work on your new invention, patent, or idea concept. Many of the organizations listed below are directly affiliated with government agencies and therefore have a fudiciary responsibility to act in the best interests of their respective citizens. Diligence is required to avoid the many pitfalls, mistakes, potential scams, unnecessary expenses, and inevitable problems that face inventors as they endeavor to commercialize thier inventions and develop their product designs.

World Intellectual Property Organization www.wipo.org
United States Patent & Trademark Office www.uspto.gov
European Patent Office www.epo.co.at
International Organization for Standardization www.iso.ch

Design Mind Group Scam Free www.designmindgroup.com/scam.htm

Small Business Administration Innovation Research Program www.sba.gov/sbir
Consumer Product & Safety Commission www.cpsc.gov
Royal Academy of Engineering www.raeng.org.uk
Department of Commerce www.commerce.gov

Your Invention

The excitement of conceiving a new invention can often blind good reason. New inventors are easily consumed by visions of super yachts and exotic sports cars all resulting from their "eureka" moment.

The facts, however, paint a different picture. Over 98% of all inventors fail to earn more than they have spent on their idea. With such odds, it would behoove a new inventor to diligently assess their invention, and their strategy before committing significant amounts of time or money to their concept.

Do your homework

A good starting point for any new idea is to simply confirm that it is in fact a new idea. Years ago this was a mammoth task which either required the services of a skilled patent searcher, or spending numerous hours at a designated patent repository sifting through thousands of patent abstracts.

Though it is difficult to match the skills of one who is well trained in searching for relevant patents, with today's technology there are a number of resources available free to enable an inventor to independently make a preliminary search of their idea.

The United States Patent Office offers a free online search tool. Some, however, may find it easier to use the patent search tool now available through Google. Whatever tool used, it is an easy and essential step that should not be overlooked.

Should you be unable to locate any patents that reflect the elements of your invention, do not assume someone else has not already conceived of the idea. In some cases new products are brought to the market with no patent protection at all. Hence, it is not possible to locate them in a patent search. Further research may be necessary to determine if the idea is already in the market.

Reduce your idea to practice

It is one thing to have an idea, it is quite another to "reduce it to practice". This principle often evades new inventors. They may feel that if they have the "idea" that is enough.

This is simply not the case. An inventor must understand how to create and operate their new invention. If they are unable to do this, or do not enlist the assistance of others to do this, they have not reduced their idea to practice. It is unlikely that you will find someone to "invent" your idea for you. Some seek the help of so-called design mind groups to work through various design issues and challenges. Nonetheless, reducing your design to practice requires putting your mind to work, with or without the assistance of a design mind group.

For example, an inventor may have an idea for a toaster that never burns toast. A fine idea indeed, but how will this be reduced to practice; will electronic sensors be developed to monitor the surface of the toast? If so, have the "sensors" been developed? Do they work? Have they been tested? Is the design practical? Are the sensors economically viable to produce? Will the "sensors" withstand the heat generated by the toaster? Will the market buy such toasters?

Questions of this nature involve reducing an idea to practice. Though often ignored, it is an essential activity in the development of a new product. Successful and experienced inventors intimately understand this point.



			Inventor Links... Resources to help inventors succeed and avoid mistakes, scams, unnecessary expenses, and problems.





			Find the Right Information Finding the right information at the right time can make the difference between success and failure. Below we have listed a number of organizations and associations that you may find beneficial as you continue to work on your new invention, patent, or idea concept. Many of the organizations listed below are directly affiliated with government agencies and therefore have a fudiciary responsibility to act in the best interests of their respective citizens. Diligence is required to avoid the many pitfalls, mistakes, potential scams, unnecessary expenses, and inevitable problems that face inventors as they endeavor to commercialize thier inventions and develop their product designs. World Intellectual Property Organization www.wipo.org United States Patent & Trademark Office www.uspto.gov European Patent Office www.epo.co.at International Organization for Standardization www.iso.ch Design Mind Group Scam Free www.designmindgroup.com/scam.htm Small Business Administration Innovation Research Program www.sba.gov/sbir Consumer Product & Safety Commission www.cpsc.gov Royal Academy of Engineering www.raeng.org.uk Department of Commerce www.commerce.gov





			Your Invention The excitement of conceiving a new invention can often blind good reason. New inventors are easily consumed by visions of super yachts and exotic sports cars all resulting from their "eureka" moment. The facts, however, paint a different picture. Over 98% of all inventors fail to earn more than they have spent on their idea. With such odds, it would behoove a new inventor to diligently assess their invention, and their strategy before committing significant amounts of time or money to their concept. Do your homework A good starting point for any new idea is to simply confirm that it is in fact a new idea. Years ago this was a mammoth task which either required the services of a skilled patent searcher, or spending numerous hours at a designated patent repository sifting through thousands of patent abstracts. Though it is difficult to match the skills of one who is well trained in searching for relevant patents, with today's technology there are a number of resources available free to enable an inventor to independently make a preliminary search of their idea. The United States Patent Office offers a free online search tool. Some, however, may find it easier to use the patent search tool now available through Google. Whatever tool used, it is an easy and essential step that should not be overlooked. Should you be unable to locate any patents that reflect the elements of your invention, do not assume someone else has not already conceived of the idea. In some cases new products are brought to the market with no patent protection at all. Hence, it is not possible to locate them in a patent search. Further research may be necessary to determine if the idea is already in the market. Reduce your idea to practice It is one thing to have an idea, it is quite another to "reduce it to practice". This principle often evades new inventors. They may feel that if they have the "idea" that is enough. This is simply not the case. An inventor must understand how to create and operate their new invention. If they are unable to do this, or do not enlist the assistance of others to do this, they have not reduced their idea to practice. It is unlikely that you will find someone to "invent" your idea for you. Some seek the help of so-called design mind groups to work through various design issues and challenges. Nonetheless, reducing your design to practice requires putting your mind to work, with or without the assistance of a design mind group. For example, an inventor may have an idea for a toaster that never burns toast. A fine idea indeed, but how will this be reduced to practice; will electronic sensors be developed to monitor the surface of the toast? If so, have the "sensors" been developed? Do they work? Have they been tested? Is the design practical? Are the sensors economically viable to produce? Will the "sensors" withstand the heat generated by the toaster? Will the market buy such toasters? Questions of this nature involve reducing an idea to practice. Though often ignored, it is an essential activity in the development of a new product. Successful and experienced inventors intimately understand this point.