AboutMarty McCrea Expertise I can answer questions about honing your idea and helping it to become more real in your mind, your research, and within your speaking. My expertise is in answering the large questions that you have into more manageable pieces. I can also assist you in finding the source of the data that you can use to prove and pitch your idea if that's the path that you're on.
Experience In my opinion, the current way to invent is inherently flawed. Regular people like us normally get “eaten up” by the proverbial sharks in the water. (corporations, invention submission companies, lawyers, etc)
We can not stand for this any longer; you feel this too, yes?
Experience:
I have helped people think and re-think their ideas for years. As a byproduct of talking with hundreds of inventors, there is a new and very revolutionary way to invent that will be available to the world in 2009.
Nobel Prize Winner Albert von Szent-Gyorgyi once said that "Discovery consists of seeing what everybody else has seen, and thinking what no one has thought." I agree with this truth with all of my heart.
Now let's talk about your question, your passion, and how I can help your idea gain momentum if it is ready.
Question I have an idea for a new tool to help the do it your selfer cut tiles to the exact angle and shape required. I have look around and have not encountered anything like it on the market. It is simple to use and cuts down on costly mistakes. Where Do I go from here?
Answer Hi Ralph;
Firstly, congratulations on coming up with an improvement idea! What I would suggest is doing a patent search on your idea just to see if someone else hasn't thought of the idea first. You can do a search for free at these two places:
Both are free, but please note, your search will not be as thorough as a patent attorney doing the search for you so keep that in mind as well. So you do not find anything in your search, you can more forward with the research and development phase. You have much work to do, so get ready for it. Invention is a game that you need to just take one step at a time. So here are the first few steps that I would recommend:
1) Patent Search (as described above)
2) Market Research: Is there anything 'close' to your idea already on the market? If there is, write some information down about how your idea would be different or better or more cost effective. If there is not anything close to your idea already in the market, then try to document why your idea is unique, why would people love to use it. Write a fictitious case scenario about a home builder who is wasting 10 tiles a day because of the tool he is using. Extrapolate that out into 300 tiles a month, 75,000/yr. Average cost per tile is say 1.50. Your idea can save that company $112,500 per year just in material savings. Put stuff like that in your case scenario.
3) Do you want to sell the idea outright or do you want to license it to a company? Research the difference between those because your answer will determine the next steps you take in the invention game.
4) Either way, you will want to look into getting a patent on your idea or design. This is essential. You don't have to do it right now, there are plenty of other things to keep you busy, however I you are able, find a local patent attorney and pay to have them do a professional patent search, then file your patent for you. Do not go to an invention submission company, 99.9% of them are scams.
These steps should get you started. If you have any questions, please come back and find me. Hang in there and Happy Inventing!
