Patten Idea

Everyday the world is abuzz with new ideas forming in the heads of eager inventors.  Every inventor feels that they have the next great idea, but what does it really take to make an idea into reality?

Inventor Tip:

Registering your idea early could be vital to keeping your rights. Sometimes it's a race to the patent office, as was the case with the telephone with two patents being filed the very same day. Do you even know the name of the OTHER guy?

Patten Idea: Harder Than it Looks

Unfortunately, simply having an idea is not enough to go the distance.  The patten idea must first be novel, meaning it is an original idea that has never been seen or heard of before.  It can be an improvement on an already existing product, but must not be obvious to anyone skilled in that particular art.  However, this is only step one of the long journey to getting a patent.

Patten Idea: Technical Disclosure

Next, the idea must morph into technical disclosure.  The inventor must know their invention inside and out in order to explain how the invention works in detail.  The inventor must know every working part of the invention, including how it is built, what materials are needed to construct it, and finally how each part functions to create a working model.  This brings the inventor another step closer to the perfect patten idea.

Patten Idea: Prototyping

Now that the concepts are ironed out, a prototype should be built.  This task may prove more difficult for some inventors, depending on their skill set and the nature of their invention.  While it is not easy to provide full technical disclosure, it can be even harder to take that disclosure and make it a reality.  Everything may look good on paper, but if the inventor is not skilled in the art, building a prototype might seem impossible.  However, an inventor must persevere through trial and error to create a working prototype.

Patten Idea: Patent Application

The inventor is now on the way to a successful patten idea, one that can go the distance and earn a patent.  However, the long journey down patent lane has just begun.  The inventor’s idea must now be filed as a patent application, which may require the assistance of a qualified patent attorney and an engineer.  These professionals can provide the help an inventor needs in running the gauntlet of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Patten Idea: Final Phase

The journey to a successful patten idea is long and arduous, requiring an inventor to push through unexpected obstacles from start to finish.  This is not to say it is not worth the effort when in the end the inventor finally receives the coveted patent number for their invention.