Becoming an Inventor
Becoming a successful inventor is not easy. In todays technologically advanced world, it often takes a great deal of skill and expertise to create a product that the world needs. Still, ordinary people create some of the world's greatest inventions everyday, and you can too. Here's some helpful hints on how to get started as an inventor.
- Identify a problem or a need: This is the key step. Most inventions aren't accidental. There are problems and needs out there that haven't been solved or fulfilled.
- How can this need be fulfilled or this problem be solved?: This is the tricky part, and your goal as an inventor. You have to figure out how the problem or need can be solved efficiently and realistically. Brainstorm ideas, and whenever you think you may be on to something, right it down.
- When you think you've come up with a solution, put it in action: Start building a protoype! If you don't have the know-how and skills to do this, go to an engineer or an engineering firm and pitch the idea. See if they think it is viable, and if they do, ask them if they will help you design it. Inventors don't have to go it alone.
- Get your invetion to the market: This step is also crucial. You could have the greatest invetion in the world on your hands, but you still have to get it to the market! This involves promotion, as well as meeting safety standards, and protecting your new invention through patents, trademarks, etc. This market portion of the invention process will be discussed further in the next section.
Getting Your Invention on the Market
You should not be afraid to publicly acknowledge that you have come up with a brilliant invention. In fact, you should somehow the idea you have come up with and the date that you came up with it and document it. This will protect you in the case that you have to prove that you were the first person to ever conceive of the invention.
When showing your inventions to anyone, friends, family, and especially potential investors or engineering firms as discussed above, always use a non-disclosure form. This form, signed by you as well as the party who you are presenting your invention to, states that the ideas, materials, information etc. are owned by you and cannot be used or duplicated without your written consent. This protects your young invention during the stage in which it is not yet reality and does not have the security of a patent.
You also need to determine whether there is a market for your invention. Is this really something people are going to buy, and you could see on store shelves, dealership show rooms, or wherever your product would be sold? If so, you need to make sure it's not already out there. Google has a patent search with over 7 million listed patents, and will provide a good place to start.
If it is an original idea, and there is a market for it, you need to apply for a patent. After you receive your patent, you need to decide how you are going to produce your invention. Most people do not have the resources to being production of a new product themselves. You will likely either have to team up with a company or a group of investors, or sell your idea outright. If you choose to sell your idea, the benefits are the you receive cash, potentially alot of it, right away, and do not have to deal with the stress of production, marketing, etc. However, you lose any control over the invention and what the company or investors decide to do with it. It really depends on what you are in it for.
So what are you waiting for, start writting down ideas, diagrams etc. You have the ability to create something great, make the world a better place, or simply make a fortune with the next great invention that is in the back of your mind!
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