Anyone tried to invent something?

[wanacoop]

I have a few small, but I feel time saving inventions that I would like to try and put forward to some companies. But where do I start? Has anyone tried to invent something?
I have had a look ont innerweb but who do I trust not to steal my idea's!!

Anyone got any advice?

(I will never own a Vanquish S just with my 9-5!)

[trickywoo]

Need to get a patent on it before you tell anyone. A UK one will cost about £150.

[VxDuncan]

wanacoop said:

I have a few small, but I feel time saving inventions that I would like to try and put forward to some companies. But where do I start? Has anyone tried to invent something?
I have had a look ont innerweb but who do I trust not to steal my idea's!!

Anyone got any advice?

(I will never own a Vanquish S just with my 9-5!)

Start with a free patent search, check out what already exists. That will get rid of 99% of your ideas. Then you need to try and protect your IPR, again not easy, as has to be well done to be granted. Will cost in the low thousands to get your patent in place (in one territory). Then you'll be protected (ish). However you may get away with some cunning legal words / non disclosure stuff, but some proper legal advice would be good here.

For starters, at this point draw everything up that's in your mind, sign and date it stating it is your copyright. Anything critical post a copy to yourself as proof of date.

[ShadownINja]

Just a heads up. Do NOT tell that company who advertise on TV about wanting inventors. They will steal your idea and charge you for the privilege.

[RemaL]

ShadownINja said:

Just a heads up. Do NOT tell that company who advertise on TV about wanting inventors. They will steal your idea and charge you for the privilege.

can the do that?

[ShadownINja]

RemaL said:

ShadownINja said:

Just a heads up. Do NOT tell that company who advertise on TV about wanting inventors. They will steal your idea and charge you for the privilege.

can the do that?

Technically, they are not stealing. They send you an inventor's pack. You pay £1k for it. You "submit" your idea to them. Weeks later you see it appear as a real product (if it's any good) and someone else is claiming they invent it.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=inventor+scam

Actually, this reminds about one episode on American Inventor. Woman invents some sort of remote control holder to hang on beds. One of the panel says they already have one. She is devastated. Turns out she had replied to one of these adverts on TV. The female panelist explained the situation.

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 25th August 18:00

[cazzer]

VxDuncan said:

Will cost in the low thousands to get your patent in place (in one territory).

And I wonder how many inventions have been lost to the world because of that?

[mybrainhurts]

I'm trying to invent the wheel...

[pits]

I have one, but I need to work out how it would be feasible to do,

[Jasandjules]

I went so far as to speak to a patent attorney for one of my ideas. Basically, it would cost far more money than I had to spend to get it protected enough to make it worthwhile.

I think the best bet is to try and get some form of agreement with a company (i.e. one who would/could) sell the type of product you have (assuming it's not already patented) and then license it to them.

[Los Palmas 7]

wanacoop said:

I have a few small, but I feel time saving inventions that I would like to try and put forward to some companies.

If it's the Veg-O-Matic, I'm afraid Ronco have beaten you to it.

[wanacoop]

Los Palmas 7 said:

wanacoop said:

I have a few small, but I feel time saving inventions that I would like to try and put forward to some companies.

If it's the Veg-O-Matic, I'm afraid Ronco have beaten you to it.

Ronco!? What in Exeter?

[wanacoop]

VxDuncan said:

wanacoop said:

I have a few small, but I feel time saving inventions that I would like to try and put forward to some companies. But where do I start? Has anyone tried to invent something?
I have had a look ont innerweb but who do I trust not to steal my idea's!!

Anyone got any advice?

(I will never own a Vanquish S just with my 9-5!)

check out what already exists. That will get rid of 99% of your ideas.

bloomin eck!! That has wiped out all my idea's!!

Cheers for the help anyway people!!!

[Nurburgsingh]

wanacoop said:

VxDuncan said:

wanacoop said:

I have a few small, but I feel time saving inventions that I would like to try and put forward to some companies. But where do I start? Has anyone tried to invent something?
I have had a look ont innerweb but who do I trust not to steal my idea's!!

Anyone got any advice?

(I will never own a Vanquish S just with my 9-5!)

check out what already exists. That will get rid of 99% of your ideas.

bloomin eck!! That has wiped out all my idea's!!

Cheers for the help anyway people!!!

COCK! and mine!

[tmk2]

mybrainhurts said:

I'm trying to invent the wheel...

Already done it!

bit bumpy though

[ShadownINja]

tmk2 said:

mybrainhurts said:

I'm trying to invent the wheel...

Already done it!

bit bumpy though

All you need is a smooth yet pointy shaft instead of a saddle and it'll be a hit in Ann Summers.

[koenig d]

bin there an got the t shirt. I invented the underwater hairdryer. it never got any where.

[V8LM]

trickywoo said:

Need to get a patent on it before you tell anyone. A UK one will cost about £150.

True, but one that is worth anything (i.e. enforceable/protectable/defendable/and a few more ’ables too) will cost a shed load more.

[EINSIGN]

Look in the PH business forum. Lots of clever people including patent lawyers in there.

You can also search all existing patents on websites like http://gb.espacenet.com

[VxDuncan]

V8LM said:

trickywoo said:

Need to get a patent on it before you tell anyone. A UK one will cost about £150.

True, but one that is worth anything (i.e. enforceable/protectable/defendable/and a few more ’ables too) will cost a shed load more.

And of course, you're still the little guy. If a big corporation wanted to use your idea they still could, and just rely on having a bigger legal budget that yours...