When searching for new ideas for inventions, it can be difficult to sift through Invent Help the vast number of invention ideas that are available on the market today. The more general categories include physical products, processes, medicines, discoveries, and even “green” technologies. No matter what you’re looking for, there will probably be an idea that could make the jump from a mere idea to a finished product. To help you get started in your quest for new inventions, read on.
One of the first places to look for new invention ideas is industry Invent Help insiders. Who are they, and how do they get things done? An insider is someone who knows the inner workings of a business, or the people who make important decisions within Invent Help that industry. Industry leaders may be willing to share their knowledge with others in exchange for a fee. This information could help you come up with a better idea or may make the leap from a brilliant idea to a profitable product or service. It’s always a good idea to strike out on your own, but if you can’t find anyone in your field, the yellow pages should be able to help you out.
Another great place to find potential invention ideas is the USPTO. The USPTO keeps track of all federal applications filed by individuals or businesses. If you have an idea and are not willing to venture into the patent application process, this is a great place to get started. While the USPTO does not grant patents, they do keep records of all federal applications filed and keep the names of the inventors and keep track of their publications, whether granted or denied.
Another source of patentable ideas is the public domain. Public domain items include works such as books, newspapers, magazines, music, etc. Often, these items are created so creative that no one should patent them. However, if you do not recognize the potential value of the item, it may not be in your best interests to file for a patent. Therefore, performing a patent search to determine if you have legal rights to the inventions is a good idea before you begin searching for ideas for a patent.
Patents are very important and determining whether you have legal rights to the inventions you come up with is a must before filing. Not only does the patent act as protection for your idea, it also enables a third party to sell or market your idea before you have a chance to come up with a product or service. While many inventors think about this possibility, few actually go through the process. If you are unable to determine whether your idea is legally protected, there is a possibility that someone else could come up with an identical or confusing idea and file a patent for it. Even if your idea is legally protected, you would not have a chance to profit from it before the patent expires. Therefore, it is advisable to perform a patent search so that you can determine if your ideas are truly unique and will not be copied by another person in the future.
Many inventors come up with new ideas in the course of their everyday lives. For instance, you saw someone playing with a new gadget on television and realized that you could have that same toy without having to spend a fortune on an invention patent. Many times, these new products become household names before the inventor has a chance to profit from them. Other times, these new products never see the light of day at all because they were deemed unprofitable by the inventor. Patent searches are often conducted to determine if an inventor has exclusive rights to a particular product or idea.
In the world of inventions, prototypes are often a necessary part of the process before a business can put their product on the market. In fact, many businesses choose to obtain a patent on their invention instead of waiting to develop a prototype. A prototype is simply a version of the final product that has been carefully designed for safety and functionality. If a business is able to successfully demonstrate that a prototype meets all of the requirements necessary to demonstrate that their product or idea is indeed unique, then they have a strong case for securing a patent on their invention. However, if they manage to prove that their product is not unique and that another party has already come up with a similar product, the court may still consider their prototype as unprotectionable because it does not meet the requirements necessary for originality.
The best protection for an idea comes from registering the idea with the USPTO. It is also important to remember that even if an inventor secures a patent on their invention idea, it does not mean that the product will be protected from being copied or patented. The USPTO only allows a patent to be filed after the product or idea has actually been produced and sold. If the inventor has not yet followed this step, they may find themselves at a significant advantage when negotiating licensing agreements. By demonstrating to the patent office that their idea is truly one of a kind, rather than a rehash of other ideas that have been around before, inventors will ensure that their invention ideas remain exclusive.
