Hey guys, we had a thread going here [https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/co...tory-i-felt-bad-for-this-guy-at-first.53203/] and I had mentioned that there should be a product that sensors if there are kids in the car to alert the owner and authorities. @MJ DeMarco gave some quick,helpful tips that got me thinking. Many people here and friends say it's a fantastic idea and it would HELP people as well as bring awareness.
I was working on before looking for opportunities in older industries [per my convo with @JackEdwards], I had started looking through private companies in old industries looking for opportunities [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ac_-eb0ZUKMc1jD0Q0rQ7Bmr7MUO08nK6B0Vci9Mex8/edit#gid=0], but since this is an ongoing problem and seems like a big need, I want to try out this idea and see if there's any traction that can be gained LICENSING it.
So far what I've done, (I'm going to copy over from the other thread):
Potential funding:
MJ mentioned, and others, that this could be a huge media play and actually Kickstarter could be the way to go. I know I'll need to hire a a mechanical engineer for the bones of it, as well as probably patent fees and such.
Some friends mentioned trying to make it a retail item for old cars, I was thinking of just going B2B and installing it straight into new cars. Your thoughts?
Action Steps:
1) Research materials needed
2) Search and vet mechanical engineers to consult on construction and car installation (could take a while to figure out integration)
3) Reach out to news outlets that covered recent deaths from heat and show what I'm creating. They would love it as a follow-up.
4) Create Kickstarter? Use these outlets to drive traffic to it to gain funding
These are all major steps with many little steps intertwined. I'll try and keep this updated as it goes along and any pitfalls that come about.
GOAL:
1)Get this in as many cars as possible. Kids /Pets dying from this is torture (don't you hate a hot car) and we have children being left for hours in tortuous heat [I live in texas, it gets hot!].
2) Fastlane potential: License it to car manufacturers, collect licenses per each car installed.
I was working on before looking for opportunities in older industries [per my convo with @JackEdwards], I had started looking through private companies in old industries looking for opportunities [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ac_-eb0ZUKMc1jD0Q0rQ7Bmr7MUO08nK6B0Vci9Mex8/edit#gid=0], but since this is an ongoing problem and seems like a big need, I want to try out this idea and see if there's any traction that can be gained LICENSING it.
So far what I've done, (I'm going to copy over from the other thread):
1)I cold-called the Toyota Technical Center in Detroit and asked for the VP of safety (by name of course, found him on Linkedin). Immediate transfer without question [the power of using names not titles].
I talked to the guy from Toyota, he said they are trying to get cameras externally (which is already out there) and cameras internally. I pressed him more on the issue as cameras wouldn't help with kids in the car. He said an idea he heard is when you put your kid in the car, take your left shoe off and put it next to your child so you'll never forget.
I almost thought he was joking but contained my sarcasm and said "That sounds great in theory but you think Americans are going to take off their shoe every time they put their kid in the car, especially if they leave them on purpose?"
He finally said, "What you're trying to do with the sensors is product development and I'm just in charge of safety, sorry." I pressed him further to get a name for a product development VP, but he wouldn't budge.
2) I was thinking of calling Ford, but MJ suggested I try and manufacture and patent the idea myself and license it out.
I started right away , and first did a quick patent search in google.
Unfortunately, it looks like the exact idea was patented almost 10 years ago [https://www.google.com/patents/US7348880]. I haven't reached out to them as maybe someone on here has a suggestion i.e. has experience with patents.
PATENTS:
I put this on the outside as there are already many patents for this idea, thus who cares if you steal.
There seems to be many patents relating to "Sensing a human occupant" "Infant safety device" etc.
Would I have to pay royalties to all of these patents if I pursue this idea?
Perhaps if my design is completely different, I could file my own patent, may need to consult a patent lawyer [don't have those funds at the moment.]
I talked to the guy from Toyota, he said they are trying to get cameras externally (which is already out there) and cameras internally. I pressed him more on the issue as cameras wouldn't help with kids in the car. He said an idea he heard is when you put your kid in the car, take your left shoe off and put it next to your child so you'll never forget.
I almost thought he was joking but contained my sarcasm and said "That sounds great in theory but you think Americans are going to take off their shoe every time they put their kid in the car, especially if they leave them on purpose?"
He finally said, "What you're trying to do with the sensors is product development and I'm just in charge of safety, sorry." I pressed him further to get a name for a product development VP, but he wouldn't budge.
2) I was thinking of calling Ford, but MJ suggested I try and manufacture and patent the idea myself and license it out.
I started right away , and first did a quick patent search in google.
Unfortunately, it looks like the exact idea was patented almost 10 years ago [https://www.google.com/patents/US7348880]. I haven't reached out to them as maybe someone on here has a suggestion i.e. has experience with patents.
PATENTS:
I put this on the outside as there are already many patents for this idea, thus who cares if you steal.
There seems to be many patents relating to "Sensing a human occupant" "Infant safety device" etc.
Would I have to pay royalties to all of these patents if I pursue this idea?
Perhaps if my design is completely different, I could file my own patent, may need to consult a patent lawyer [don't have those funds at the moment.]
Potential funding:
MJ mentioned, and others, that this could be a huge media play and actually Kickstarter could be the way to go. I know I'll need to hire a a mechanical engineer for the bones of it, as well as probably patent fees and such.
Some friends mentioned trying to make it a retail item for old cars, I was thinking of just going B2B and installing it straight into new cars. Your thoughts?
Action Steps:
1) Research materials needed
2) Search and vet mechanical engineers to consult on construction and car installation (could take a while to figure out integration)
3) Reach out to news outlets that covered recent deaths from heat and show what I'm creating. They would love it as a follow-up.
4) Create Kickstarter? Use these outlets to drive traffic to it to gain funding
These are all major steps with many little steps intertwined. I'll try and keep this updated as it goes along and any pitfalls that come about.
GOAL:
1)Get this in as many cars as possible. Kids /Pets dying from this is torture (don't you hate a hot car) and we have children being left for hours in tortuous heat [I live in texas, it gets hot!].
2) Fastlane potential: License it to car manufacturers, collect licenses per each car installed.
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