Indiana Inventors Association

A prototype can help you to see whether your invention works, to identify ways to improve its appearance and function, and to communicate it to the world of business and law. A prototype made of plastic is attractive and affordable, and can be made quickly. Mr. Andrew Nehrt (812-522-4433, proformplastics@verizon.net) of Pro-Form Plastics, Inc. (manufacturer of heavy-gauge [.03-.5" thick] molded plastics, non-metallic material [foam, felt, plastic, etc.] cut by steel-rule die, and customized wood shipping containers) spoke to us about the different designs, methods, plastics, and tools he uses to build prototypes. The method of thermoforming uses a vacuum to fit a rectangular sheet of heated plastic (3x4' to 5x9') to a mold of a product part (remember the Vac-u-form toy from years ago?). Before being fit to a deep mold, the plastic is stretched with a felt-covered plug. Plastic shrinks while cooling on the mold, so designing the mold with at least 2 degrees of draft...

Please join us Saturday August 15, 2009 for a free Innovation Roadshow workshop! This is a great opportunity for those who are ready to get their ideas out to the world.   The workshop will be held with the Cincinnati inventors group at Eureka Ranch , near Cincinnati, OH from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  If you would like to join a carpool, please contact Dave Zedonis (dzedonis@comcast.net).   What will happen In the morning, an instructor sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerceʼs NIST/MEP organization will help you become a persuasive salesperson for your product.  The instructor will help you express your ideas in language that excites business buyers, licensees, investors, distributors, manufacturers, etc (i.e., “buyers”). In the afternoon, you have the option of submitting your invention online to the USA National Innovation Marketplace .  (You will need a laptop computer to do this. If you don't have a laptop, you may be able to share another'...