Inventors are always coming up with new ideas, but how do you bring an idea to life? The answer lies in the patent filing. However, the patent filing process is intimidating but necessary for any invention idea. If you want to bring your invention idea to life, it’s important that you do the patent search and file an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) before creating a prototype or engineering design because patents can be applied for on both new and “non-obvious” inventions.
This includes researching patent attorneys and patent agents, drafting a patent application, and applying for patents. Once you have done all of this research, design for prototyping can finally take place! Engineering design will be used to create a prototype that will make or break whether or not investors are willing to invest in your product.
In this blog post, we will go through the steps of bringing your new invention idea to life, which include documentation, patent search, design for prototyping, and a lot more.
Document and Record Your Invention Ideas
You can do this by starting a journal or notebook for documenting new inventions, recording patent information you find during research like patent numbers, patent application filing dates, inventor’s names, etc., as well as any sketches that are related to the idea. This will help in the event of patent disputes or patent infringement.
You need to write down everything from the concept, engineering design, and even marketability of your invention. These are legal documents, so make sure to use a journal that has consecutively numbered pages that cannot be reinserted or removed. Most importantly, every time you make new notes or come up with new ideas, add dates to them and have a witness sign.
Make Sure Your Invention is Not Already Patented
You can search patent information by using the patent number, inventor’s name, or company name. If you find a patent application that is similar to your invention idea but doesn’t have an issue date yet, this means there might be a patent pending on it already, so make sure to cancel yours with USPTO as soon as possible before submitting any documents.
Don’t patent your device or product idea if it is not patentable. Inventions that are not patentable include abstract ideas, mathematical algorithms, a law of nature, an obvious variation on another invention (non-obvious), and anything someone else can legally do without violating any laws. You should also be careful about patenting a patentable device, product, or process if it is not patentable.
Make sure to patent your invention idea within one year of its conception and keep all patent applications confidential before the patent application has been filed with USPTO. Get help from a patent attorney who understands intellectual property law to make sure that you are using the most effective strategy.
Make a Prototype
Once you have patent protection for your invention idea, it’s time to do virtual invention prototyping. Research on what materials are best suited to be used in the construction of the device or product. Prototypes should only be made from non-proprietary materials that can easily be replicated by others because prototypes are usually patentable.
Make sure to design the prototype using engineering design standards and include all necessary information on the parts of your device or product, including sketches and assembly drawings that illustrate how it functions with precise dimensions in a CAD program.
File a Patent
Finally, once you have a patent-ready prototype, make sure to file for a patent and then start the process of getting your product out into the market.
Conclusion
It is essential to do some research to find out whether your new invention idea has a market or not. And once the patent is filed, you need to create a business plan to market your invention.
