Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Holy smokes gentleman.  This thread is like a suspense movie.  I find myself secretly wishing that BMT (BetterMousetrap) will break down and give it up.  I keep looking for the fastforward button.....does anyone know how this one ends?  All kidding aside, best of luck BMT.

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Anthony Calvert
PODillow, Inc.

Innovator7,  your inverter example is a good example of bootstrapping up your company.  Fortunately for you, inverters have just enough technology in them to make them difficult to copy, and easier to patent. 

Non-tech inventions, particularly purely mechanical inventions, are easier to copy, and harder to patent and maintain the status.  Therefore, in general, they have to hit the shelves of the mass retail stores, so they can make some money before they get copied.

In summary, many inventions are hard to bootstrap because they are so simple in operation and easy to copy.

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Jimmy

Actually, I am learning alot!  I am the one who let a year go by without finalizing my patent, and started selling my product.  Now I have to start over and change something to make it "new" and go through the process to completion. Fortunately, I can make a large enough adjustment to qualify. And luckily I won`t need to go global.

My understanding, talking to my patent attorneys, is that international patents are hard to protect.  Most countries ignore them and make you come after them.

My product is easily copied.  I just want to have a patent that I can use to protect my product in those instances where I really want to and to use as a plus when looking for investors.  Too much money can be wasted protecting a patent.  I just want to be the "xerox" in the sea of copiers.  The first, the biggest and the brand name!

emmytay

I would like to add another comment about PATENTS.  Most patents are junk!

In the olden days, the PTO (Patent Office) used to require that you send in a working prototype with your patent.  Not anymore.  So, most folks believe they can get a patent on a concept or a block diagram.  And its true, you can.  But let me give you an example of why this is not a good idea:

In the mid 70`s I tried to patent what would be called an "automatic tone control" for a stereo.  No matter what kind of input you gave it, radio-LP-Cassette-Changing from channel-to-channel, etc, it would try to maintain the same amount of Bass, Mids, and Treble that you preferred in your ears.  It did this by working as a graphic equalizer, with an automatic gain control in each band.  Okay, I could have recieved a patent on that block diagram. 

But, I decided to build it first.  Low and behold, the circuit had one huge problem that I did not see coming.  If the input went quiet for a while, the tone control would start turning up full blast.  By the time the music came back on, it would blow out the speakers (or at least hurt your ears)!!!  So, I had to fix my circuit by adding another circuit that looked for the "no input signal" scenario. 

So, my patent now had in it the main concept and the "fix".  This was now a solid patent.  If I had not built it and fixed it, somebody else could have came along with a new patent containing the "fix", making mine immediately obsolete. 

So, don`t patent anything until you get it working, or you are going to end up with a wortheless patent!  ( I have been telling people this for 30 years and not too many are listening).

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Jimmy

It sounds like the problem was the PRODUCT and not the PATENT.

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James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com

Conflict:

This thread is supposed to help with inventions and patents.  However the associated Google ads link the clicker to INVENTION SCAM companies.  There appears the problem:  love of money ruins just about everything.  There`re people who will lie to get your money.  They actually sell you a dream of easy money.


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WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT?!

THIS THREAD SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN TOO FAR OFF THE BEATEN PATH!
I fear that the people I am trying to reach are going to get lost in this six
page thread that talks more about every OTHER problem BUT mine!
Sorry if I seem selfish here BUT I`m the one who is at the end of his rope.
Throw me a line, give me a lead, or pull me out of the ditch- But please
take your Debates about other peoples problems SOMEWHERE ELSE!

As I may have mentioned- I`M AT THE END OF MY ROPE. I`ll relax as soon
as I see some solutions...
BMT


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Until you walk a MILE in another man`s Moccasins-    You can never Know the man!!!

whenever you see something like this, please record the name of the invention scam company and send us (me) a private message with that information. it`s very difficult to anticipate what google will put in their ads on our site, but we can blacklist advertisers relatively easily.

thanks for your diligence. we certainly don`t condone the invention scammer companies (but we do need to keep the lights on around here while providing all of startupnation.com to you for free!).


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Rich Sloan , Co-Founder, Chief Startupologist, StartupNation

 

Fact:  You have received good suggestions and solutions earlier in this thread

Fact:  There are NO silver bullets that will solve your problems

Fact:  You will NOT receive any offers to help you financially from your post in this forum.

Fact:  You have a whole lot of work to do before you can approach people for money.  You are putting the horse before the cart.

IMPORTANT FACT:  Investors do NOT like to hear the things you are saying -- You need to listen carefully, understand what people are saying, and realize that you have only 3% of the solution done... 97% is a LONG way to go.  So far, you have not shown yourself to be someone who takes direction, criticism, or understands your own limitations or current position.  Those things will scare the crap out of anyone who might be a potential investor.  These things sink companies.

We are not here to solve your problems.  That`s what YOU need to do.  If you feel you are hopelessly are stuck at this point, carefully consider if you really want to move forward.  The problems you are having now are only small, early hurdles.  the big ones come later.

What I am saying should energize you, not discourage you, providing you have what it takes.  Stop whining, get over yourself, and start to educate yourself, and do it beyond what`s handed to you in this thread.

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Thank you,   
Nelson
Accessmount LLC
www.accessmount.com   
Easy maintenance, "Ladderless" Light Fixtures

I am in the Elevator Pitch Contest! Please vote for me

Ladderless-
Thankyou again for all your words of wisdom, encouragement & helpfull
advice!

BMT

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Until you walk a MILE in another man`s Moccasins-    You can never Know the man!!!