ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

I'll bet it's happened to us all. We've thought of an idea for an invention that would be the next big hit because once seen, nobody could live without it. But, not knowing how to go about getting that idea off the ground, we don't do anything about it and kick ourselves in the butt when we later see it on the store shelf.
Well, I have what I believe to be a very good idea for a new...anduseful hunting product. I've thought about this for a long time and actually did a rough test on the idea this past week and it worked as well as expected.My next step is to figure out how to move forward. Any ideas?
I've e-mailed Primos, Hunter's Specialities and Knight and Hale to ask if they work with stuff like this, but I'm looking for help from someone who may have invented something and actually had it make it onto the market. What's the process?
Thanks in advance for any help.

Craig

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

Build a prototype if possible, and apply for a pattent. I'd be careful e-mailing those companies, don't think they wouldn't steal an idea in a second if they had the chance. Keep it to yourself until you get the patent or at least get it applied for. Hopefully we'll all be talking about getting your big idea for Christmas a couple years from now. Good luck.

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

If it is indeed a new invention draw it up and apply for a patent(Sp?)

If not all you can do is pitch it to the guys who may try to buy the idea from you. Keep in mind that they could just decide to do it thier own way and leave you out. Thats why the patent is important. Unless of course you can get people to invest so you can go into production and make it yourself. Then you can try to get them to buy the existing product line.

I had an idea 10 years ago about hat/bow/gun mounted cameras to capture the hunt. Never had the money to go anywere with it. Now I can just buy one someone else came up with.


Good luck.

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

As mentioned, Build it, pattent it, then talk to the marketers. Dont let out your idea to a marketer like Primos etc., with out a pattent. They will just make it and market it themselves. Money will come from those paying to use said pattent, or when some company buys the pattent to start marketing it. I would not talk to any marketers until you got the pattent pending.

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

Tell me what it is and then I will tell you how to get it on the market;);)

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

Absolutly get a Pattent on any and all parts involved and also the name of said product before you talk to anyone.....once you tell a company about your idea and they think it will sell,they will be on the phone to the pattent office before you hang up your phone....
Zip the lip..........
lose lips sink ships................

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

China does not realize USA pattens, be very careful and be very fast the market window opens and closes very rapidly. BTW if is good it will be copied and sold by those that can afford to tie you up in court for years.

Good Luck, Jim

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

I have filed for a few patents for hunting related items, and for turbo related things for cars. I can tell you that they are very costly to do with legal fee's, filing fee's, searches required by the US Patent office, especially not knowing if your idea will be approved by the US Patent Examiners and your money will be recouped. The first thing I would tell you to is contact a local Patent lawyer and go for a counciltation about your idea to get a better idea of how the process works. One word of advice is have a local patent attorney help you and dont go with one of the online companies that file for you. Good luck with your idea!

Oh yeah, and Jim is right about the patents outside the US where most things get manufactured because of cost. Its much cheaper to have things manufactured in China obviously, but that also can bite you in the rear end later on.

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

I'm waiting for someone to invent the leaning rack. It would be likea lawn chair, only you would use it in a leaning position. It would be great for hunting, concerts and other activities. I don't care if someone steals my idea, I just want one.

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

Have you tried searching the patent list yourself?

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

20 years ago I thought to myself, what if you could bottle deer urine.....[:-]

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

Probably not patentable

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

Thanks for all of the input. Sounds like I better contact a lawyer and get busy with a prototype.

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

Dont forget there are always plenty of investors willing to put their money into something that has potential. Thats where you need to have a Marketing Plan, etc ... to show how much money the hunting industry generates annually, and if you can break it down further in a particular field you are targeting thats even better. Not difficult, just time consuming but definately doable.

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

Good luck Craig, just don't forget about your friends. ;) [8D] :D

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

a simple way protect your idea is to take all your papers drawings etc.. get them notarized (sp). The next step is to mail them to yourself by certified mail. When you recieve them don't open them until someone tries to steal your idea then you sue them. you win they fail.

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

If you think sueing is a way to win you haven't been in court enough. Legal issues suck and usually if someone has stolen your idea they have more money than you. Even if you win you lose.

The best ideas are those that can't be copied easily.

I don't mean to be a doomsdayer but another issue to contend with is making any real money without getting your stuff into the Big Boxes (Wal-Mart, Kmart etc...) is pretty tough. They have very significant rules about how much they buy how much you can supply. Also many times they will want you to own the inventory until sold. Means you could be on the hook indefinetly for returns etc... They can in a lot of cases also charge for space. Fits in with the inventory concept.

The little guy has amazing obsticles these days.

Tom

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

patent lawyer

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

You can do a patent search to see if someone has already come up with your idea...

http://www.uspto.gov/patft/

RE: ME AND MY BRIGHT IDEA
 

yep, i was building swivle game camera mounts on a 3/8" steel rod, it swiveled any direction and did not have to be mounted on a tree, i searched high and low and could not find anyone else making them, now they are everywhere. Patons were out of my league financialy $$