User Power
Value/Post Ratio
200%
- Dec 14, 2014
- 270
- 539
- 53
I have a couple of patents. One made good money, others made some, others got ripped off before hitting the market, all were worth while. In my case, I made prototypes and worked out the bugs to create a product that the manufacturer could build and sell. There is no one way to go, but in my limited experience having a patent is only so valuable, where having a working product is killer. An idea has to be "reduced to practice", and it's hard to do that without making a physical object. I don't know what it is you are working on, but if it is an improvement on something that is already out there, I'd start by getting one of those and re configuring it to embody your idea. The classic hypothetical example is the wheel. Say the wheel is the hot new invention; then you invent tires. You get a wheel, and wrap it with rubber. Next caveman gets this bright idea to invent treads, so he buys one of your rubber coated wheels and he cuts treads into it. Don't re-invent the wheel, get a wheel and modify it.
You can find tutorials on nearly every process. If you don't know how to fabricate your idea, break it down into increments and figure out piece by piece how to cut, glue, bend and manipulate raw materials into some semblance of your invention. If it should be made out of titanium, and you can't work titanium, make a representation out of PVC. Make a "mock up" before you consider paying dear currency to an engineer.
This is important. You need to research the companies who make the products that your idea improves on. Those companies are your target customers. You want to figure out which one of them is going to buy your patent. Target research is one of your new hobbies.
You can find tutorials on nearly every process. If you don't know how to fabricate your idea, break it down into increments and figure out piece by piece how to cut, glue, bend and manipulate raw materials into some semblance of your invention. If it should be made out of titanium, and you can't work titanium, make a representation out of PVC. Make a "mock up" before you consider paying dear currency to an engineer.
This is important. You need to research the companies who make the products that your idea improves on. Those companies are your target customers. You want to figure out which one of them is going to buy your patent. Target research is one of your new hobbies.