Are You Inventive Enough to be an Inventor? Some Guidelines to
Invention Success!
Inventors make a ton of money when the invention is needed and
when the process is done properly. There are different types of
inventions. Some inventions are more practical, making the
everyday lives of individuals easier (pens for example), some
inventions are simply for entertainment purposes (television),
and some inventions are multi-purpose (educational devices that
are also entertaining). In addition, some inventions are simply
answers to medical problems, as in prosthetic devices while
others are simply "improvements" made to existing inventions. As
you can see, inventing something successfully can be done in
many styles and through many creative pathways.
Overall, though, inventions either succeed or fail, depending
upon the need or desire for the product by consumers. Let's face
it, if something is not needed or desired, no one will buy it,
no matter how clever it is! Even Thomas Alva Edison (he invented
the light bulb), failed thousands of times before inventing many
successful products, as did the famous British inventor, Sir
Clive Sinclair. One of Sir Clive's "famous failures" included an
X-Bike that was a cross between a pair of scissors and a bike.
Thomas Edison's biggest failure overall was a mining operation
invention which would separate iron from more low-grade ores,
and Mr. Edison spent his fortune and lost it eventually, trying
for a successful "invention method".
Inventors, though, are seldom deterred, and continuing to try
and invent eventually leads to extreme success, as in the cases
of both Thomas Edison and Sir Clive. Successful inventing
entails a certain number of steps or processes that will
routinely lead to successful inventions:
A. The realistic assessment of the invention's potential. Let's
face it, if it isn't "needed or wanted", it won't sell.
B. If a patent is needed. In some cases, believe it or not, it
is not.
C. The legal protection of ideas. Not allowing ideas to be
stolen or copied.
D. The development of a marketable product. Besides being needed
or wanted, a product should be affordable enough to build that
prices will appeal to a consumer.
E. The methods of developing prototypes and engineering to bring
an invention to fruition. This needs to be done properly for
successful marketing.
F. Licensing issues. Some inventions require research into
existing licenses and also the obtaining of licenses.
G. Proposing to companies and approaching companies for
promotion of the final product. The correct methods of
approaching interested businesses and investors.
H. Royalties and advance payment options. Without knowledge of
these issues, investors may very well lose money in the long run.
I. Checking existing patents, trademarks and copyrights. No
sense inventing something already protected by another.
As with any other type of business (and inventing something is,
overall, a "business venture"), much work needs to be done,
before, during and after the process of invention. Everything
from correct market research, to correct patent processes,
trademark and copyright information much be established, and
successful inventors proceed slowly and carefully during each
stage of the invention process. Also, successful inventors are
very determined and patient. Many failures usually occur with
each product before an "invention success" take place, so having
an easy going, dedicated personality is necessary as well.
Although tons of books and other materials exist on the proper
procedures to follow, a future inventor can also save money on
materials, and save time by visiting the United States
government sites specifically set up for the needs of inventors
and creators of products/services. These sites are:
The United States Patent and Trademark Office:
http://www.uspto.gov The United States Copyright Office:
http://www.copyright.gov
If you prefer to buy a book or report on how to successfully
bring an invention to market, a simple search online will reveal
literally hundreds of such materials.
As with any business venture, future inventors that are
knowledgeable and armed with the "tools" necessary for
successful invention, do their "invention homework", and back up
their efforts with the funds needed, will more often than not
produce an invention that works, is needed, and best of all,
"sells". After all, what better reward than the knowledge that
consumers were so thrilled with an invention that they would
gladly pay for it???