Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Clint, Your post flashed me back a couple / three decades, don`t give up man.

back in the late seventies and early eighties I had a rash of ideas to make the world a better place, as it turned out some where really new but most where already taken.

just an example I had a huge problem with having my electric meter read (fenced yard, dog, day job) so I always got estimated bills. so I went and got a meter some electronics and designed and built the best contraption the world had ever seen, the electric company could just phone in and read my meter, dead simple (even back then). Not looking to get rich or anything like that. I sent the design, schematics, and prototype to the electric company. About 2 months later I got this really nice, polite letter from their head of engineering, basically saying this device was invented and patented in the late 1950`s, and the device has not been built because of consessions with the union that represents the meter readers. as I`ve lived, I`ve learned (so many mistakes) You really need to have professional research done on any Idea, someone somewhere may have thought of it, even before you were born.

now to your question, and this is free advise so treat it as such, look at your (gizmos) inventions, imagine how they could improve or replace a existing product, contact those companies without disclosing details, with regard to a specific product, look for some interest. if there is any interest call your lawyer and get them involved. if there is no interest, try to get a patent (i forget the technical name at the moment) that names that companies product you improve. an example acme bolt company made nuts and bolts for years, you invent the lock washer, they say no thanks, you patent the lock washer as an improvment to Acmes bolt and nut assembly, and every other bolt company not interested in your improvement. they can`t use the lock washer on their own product cause you own the idea. ( i`m thinking it`s called an improvement patent) your idea becomes more valuable cause you are blocking competion by name.

I know a person that owns a multimillion dollar business which holds some very industry specific patents of improvement on the industry leaders mainstay products. he worked for the company at one time knew the problems with the products and after he left patented solutions naming the original companies products in his patent.

and just for the record I love the concept of perpetual motion, yet as I age I`ve come to realize there really is no such thing. you got to give something to get something, I don`t like it ,it`s just the way it is.

2 cents and a thought

stan

 

Yes, don`t give up, just refine & define what you want to do. Start with the most likely to generate income...

 

I know I have a few more idea`s I need to  hatch as well.

Aloha Craig,

Well, thats one I hadn`t thought of...

Have your best day, everyday ...