Indiana Inventors Association

Mr. Steven R. Peabody (president of CMI Engineering and holder of several patents) gave us exceptional, valuable, practical, real-world guidance on how to develop an invention into a product. Here is a summary of his detailed method: 1. Prepare an industrial design . Once you feel you have a marketable invention: a) sign a mutual nondisclosure agreement b) describe your invention to someone (industrial designer, engineer, draftsman) who can give your idea: an understandable format (such as an industrial design). Show this to your engineers, marketers, and patent lawyers/agents. if the invention is complex, an animated illustration to show how the product works. 2. Consider filing a patent application. To get legal rights for your invention. Now, or after doing the marketability study of step 4. 3. Have an engineering firm precisely design your invention. So you can manufacture products. a) Choose a firm that is familiar wit...

Despite inclement weather, 6 brave attendees received valuable advice on early stage innovation from inventors Ron Jackson and Richard McVicker . Before investing a lot of money in an invention: Test the invention and its market. Build a prototype of your invention and test it in the real world. Find out what the prototype's flaws are, so you can correct them and make the invention more marketable. Test market your invention to find out who might actually buy it. Are potential customers excited enough about your invention to pay for it? How much will they pay? How many will pay? Are expected sales large enough to justify your investment of time, energy, and resources? Find out who can manufacture your invention and at what cost. Can you sell your invention for a price high enough to pay for manufacturing and shipping and still make a profit? Look in stores to identify products similar to yours and contact the manufacturer for more information. Find out who can help sell your inven...

Ms. Nikki Lewallen ( Rainmakers Director of Membership Development) introduced us to Rainmakers, an organization dedicated to helping people establish strategic business relationships. Rainmakers helps inventors (among others) succeed by presenting informative business programs and by helping members meet those who can help them. The effectiveness of Rainmakers is evident from its rapid growth in membership - doubling every year (since its founding 5 years ago by Tony Scelzo) to 1200 members today. Through its philosophy of winning and putting others first, Rainmakers: S - creates Strategic relationships H - creates a culture of Hospitality A - has members hold each other Accountable to a higher standard R - is always Recruiting new members E - Encourages and inspires members to achieve their goals How does it work? Sharpen your focus. Create a message that identifies, as specifically as possible, what you need and who you want to meet. Find your power circle. Attend a meeti...

Dr. Mileta Tomovic (of Purdue University's Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology) and graduate students Tamara Novakov and Jui Shyang Liu introduced us to the fascinating technology of rapid prototyping, which creates a prototype model of an invention rapidly (2 – 7 hours) and inexpensively. They have generously made the slides of their presentation accessible. Embodying your inventive idea in a physical model can help you: visually communicate your invention to investors, colleagues, and customers optimize your invention before manufacture test market your invention on a small scale establish an invention date for your patent application reverse engineer someone else's invention. One form of rapid prototyping (known as material addition, additive fabrication, three dimensional printing, solid free-form fabrication, layered manufacturing, or computer automated manufacturing) uses a machine, and a description of your invention as Compute...

Inventors in our group gave us insight this month into the real world of innovation. Having a good idea and making a few items is just the start. You need to be creative, take risks, establish personal contacts, and persevere. A little luck helps too! What should you invent? Start with what you know best - the field in which you work. Ron Jackson ( Jackson Systems ), who works in the field of heating & air conditioning, has invented some 35 products (mostly unpatented ) in that field. He believes that if you have a good idea, understand marketing, and beat others to the marketplace, you have a good chance of dominating the market. Protecting that advantage with a patent may be a good idea if your invention is unique and you think someone might infringe. How do you create a place for your invention in the marketplace? Let the public know about your invention. Bob Dunlap (The Cement Solution) brings attention to his Reusable Concrete Mixing Bag in a YouTube video, in holding the G...

Mr. John Daniluck of the law firm Bingham McHale spoke to us about recent actual and potential changes to the patent system. As of 11/1/2007, there are two major changes to Title 37 - Code of Federal Regulations: In seeking patent protection for an invention, you are limited to filing one family of 3 patent applications (1 original application and 2 continuation applications) and 1 request for continued examination of an application, unless you make a "showing" of why you need more. Each of those applications is limited to 5 independent claims and 25 total claims (allowing you 15 independent claims and 75 total claims for the family of applications), unless you present an examination support document for all the claims of that application. These changes could affect your strategy for best protecting your invention. You may want to consult a patent attorney/agent. More change may be on the way. On 9/7/2007 bill HR 1908 passed the House. If the bill passes the Senate, U....