| Inventors, Predators, And Land mines | | | | don't have a huge cash flow to pay everyattorney, |
| Webster describes invention as a new, useful process, | | | | accountant, manufacturer, etc. you might want to form |
| machine, improvement, etc., that did not exist previously | | | | a corporation and barter stock for services and goods. |
| and that is recognized as the product of some unique | | | | You can write press releases about your firm coming |
| intuition or genius, as distinguished from ordinary | | | | out with the product and stock options are open and |
| mechanical skill or craftsmanship. | | | | for sell. You might attract investors and future |
| But it describes inventor as a person who invents, esp. | | | | stockholders. That is what I did with my last invention |
| one who devises some new process, appliance, | | | | "Insert Alert". It is the world's first and only "intelligent |
| machine, or article; one who makes inventions. | | | | medical alert device". It is worn as jewelry. It has a |
| The reason I mention both terms and meanings is that | | | | computer chip and is completely automated. It monitors |
| the inventor often mistakes him or herself from the | | | | all vital signs, has satellite gps tracking to pinpoint where |
| actual invention. The ego gets caught up in the idea | | | | you are at all times, and actually "dials" 9-11 if there is a |
| and process. That can not only be a dangerous thing, | | | | problem (even if you are unconscious). It stores your |
| but one in which the person (and notice "person" is a | | | | past medical records. It text-messages your loved |
| key word in the definition that does not appear in the | | | | ones with location and problem. |
| definition of invention) loses interest in the excitement | | | | I am very proud of it and had investors lined up before |
| of the process of bringing an idea into manifestation | | | | I even incorporated it (I incorporated it as a sub |
| and into the marketplace. This invention may help | | | | chapter "s" (for tax purposes) in Delaware. You can |
| improve mankind, leave the planet a better place than | | | | do that too if you wish. |
| where the inventor found it, and, consequently, make | | | | I try to go on with my daily routine. If I think too much |
| the inventor wealthy beyond his or her wildest | | | | about it, my ego gets tied up and I forget all the little |
| imagination. | | | | and big steps ahead before bringing it to market. I had |
| For those of you who are old veterans of inventing, | | | | to find an engineering company, an investor, I have to |
| please disregard or ignore most of my ramblings. You | | | | get FDA approval, it helps to have UL (Underwriters |
| already know all this and possibly have been through it. | | | | Laboratories) approval. Lots to do and I'm just a |
| I guess by now I am anold veteran holding several | | | | "person" (remember the word "person" in the definition |
| patents and thousands of copyrights. | | | | of inventor). Being an inventor does not make me any |
| So you've got an idea and you have been mulling it | | | | more special than a non-inventor. It simply means I |
| around awhile. You can envision it in the marketplace | | | | found a niche and learned the steps of turning an idea |
| yet nobody else can. You see a commercial on | | | | into a tangible product. Any person can do it if he/she |
| television from an invention representative firm and | | | | goes the extra mile to make it happen. |
| you call them. They gladly take several thousand | | | | Now that the word is out I continue to send out press |
| dollars from you to "help" you with it. Hopefully by now, | | | | releases and blog about it to buildname brand |
| you have caught on and saved your hard-earned | | | | recognition and hopefully increase the stock value. |
| money. There are very few legitimate invention firms | | | | Next you want to think of a name for your |
| out there who really can help you and they don't | | | | corporation. You can name it whatever you want, but |
| advertise. They usually approach the inventor if they | | | | my suggestion is to think of something professional |
| think the invention is a winner. No legitimate invention | | | | that helps describe the product. Though my product's |
| firm will charge you any fees. The fees should be | | | | name is "Insert Alert", common sense told me not to |
| coming from their direction to you. They hope you | | | | name it "Insert Alert, Inc" for a myriad of reasons. |
| don't realize that. Now you do. | | | | What if I think of another invention, or someone on my |
| So you want to patent your idea. Can it be patented? | | | | board or in my group does? Are we stuck with Insert |
| No. Ideas cannot be patented, copyrighted or | | | | Alert, Inc? I hope not. But how does North American |
| trademarked. However, you can draw a working | | | | Satellite Systems (NASS) sound? I would much prefer |
| model or develop a working prototype and take a | | | | to invest in such a company, plus, the name and brand |
| picture of it (helps to have a working diagram showing | | | | allows us to explore further into satellite systems and |
| how it makes it different than anything else on the | | | | see what is out there for other similar inventions. |
| market). Go to the U.S. Patent & Trademark | | | | Now that I (sort of) know what I am doing, does that |
| website, click on "forms" and download a patent form. | | | | mean the game is over and I "have it made"? Not |
| Can't afford the $500 for a full patent? Download the | | | | quite. I am still dealing daily with engineers, investors, |
| provisionary patent form. It protects you for a year | | | | attorneys and the like to make sure everything is done |
| and costs $100. Fill it out, and along with your diagram | | | | the way it is supposed to be done. It is certainly a |
| and/or photo, and a brief description of the product, | | | | humbling and learning experience, sometimes scary, |
| mail it back. Be patient. There's lots of us out there. | | | | sometimes exhilarating |
| You will hear back within a month or two and have | | | | I highly recommend a website called It is run by a Paul |
| your patent form. | | | | Gnass in Los Angeles and he has all the information |
| Now the real work begins. If you have your own trust | | | | you need on the site to see your product to market |
| fund, you can ignore the rest of thisarticle. Simply open | | | | and to keep the predators at bay. |
| a manufacturing plant and get started. | | | | Good luck with your venture! |
| If you are like me, (and have had to work for it), but | | | | |