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Can you sell an idea?
#13693470
09/07/20 03:47 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,550
JavelinJ
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,550 |
I have a major safety device idea for the boating industry. After it came to mind, I can't believe it has been added to boats already.
I mentioned it to two other avid boaters (Brother in law and cousin)and they thought it was a great idea and told I better run with it.
Problem is, its an idea. Probably a million different ways to manufacture the idea and end up with the same end result so it would be difficult to patent.
Is an idea worth anything?
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: JavelinJ]
#13693483
09/07/20 04:06 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 121,077
hopalong
Pescador Loco
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Pescador Loco
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 121,077 |
draw it out in detail and copyright your drawings then apply for patent.
working model helps a ton for patent.
get the paperwork done then market it to boat mfrs. or retailers or whatever the target market is, if it is a great idea you can probably sell it to a co. pat pending.
I think that is how it is, I looked into it yrs. ago for an electric car build, never got the cash to build a go cart sized prototype. that was in the late 70s
" Hop, set the hook"! hopalong 99,999 TexDawg 99,999 FJB! not my president by a long shot!
lake fork FISHERMANS COVE MARINA/reservations - 903 474 7479
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: JavelinJ]
#13693484
09/07/20 04:08 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 121,077
hopalong
Pescador Loco
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Pescador Loco
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 121,077 |
if you have a new manufacturing method that is part of the idea you should patent that too, how to make stuff is worth a bunch if someone wants to buy, good way to hang on to some residuals also I think.
" Hop, set the hook"! hopalong 99,999 TexDawg 99,999 FJB! not my president by a long shot!
lake fork FISHERMANS COVE MARINA/reservations - 903 474 7479
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: hopalong]
#13693489
09/07/20 04:11 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,550
JavelinJ
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,550 |
draw it out in detail and copyright your drawings then apply for patent.
working model helps a ton for patent.
get the paperwork done then market it to boat mfrs. or retailers or whatever the target market is, if it is a great idea you can probably sell it to a co. pat pending.
I think that is how it is, I looked into it yrs. ago for an electric car build, never got the cash to build a go cart sized prototype. that was in the late 70s Target market would be boat manufacturers, but could be an aftermarket deal as well I suppose.
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: JavelinJ]
#13693502
09/07/20 04:23 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 121,077
hopalong
Pescador Loco
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Pescador Loco
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 121,077 |
draw it out in detail and copyright your drawings then apply for patent.
working model helps a ton for patent.
get the paperwork done then market it to boat mfrs. or retailers or whatever the target market is, if it is a great idea you can probably sell it to a co. pat pending.
I think that is how it is, I looked into it yrs. ago for an electric car build, never got the cash to build a go cart sized prototype. that was in the late 70s Target market would be boat manufacturers, but could be an aftermarket deal as well I suppose. talk to the atty hancock has up, worst he can do is spit on the floor and call you a few names, I think.
" Hop, set the hook"! hopalong 99,999 TexDawg 99,999 FJB! not my president by a long shot!
lake fork FISHERMANS COVE MARINA/reservations - 903 474 7479
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: JavelinJ]
#13693505
09/07/20 04:25 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,293
ReelBusy
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,293 |
In 1989 I built a charging device to work with boats to allow charging from the vehicle while going down the road. I added a trolling motor plug on the bumper and ran heavy wire to the truck battery and connected it with a cord from the bumper to the boat at the trolling motor plug in the bow area. I then built a charging circuit to isolate and 'switch' the boat batteries out of series in a 24v circuit to 12v so it could charge them both. I needed around $50k, which I didn't have, to get a custom manufactured zener diode and a patent. I never did anything else with it and regretted not pursuing it further. There are many options to do this now. All that to say, you should at least give it a shot and don't always wonder if you might have had something there.
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: JavelinJ]
#13693513
09/07/20 04:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 22,510
lconn4
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 22,510 |
I spent a couple hundred with a patent attorney that did a preliminary search for the feasibility of getting a patent, years ago. Well worth it in my opinion.
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: JavelinJ]
#13693516
09/07/20 04:39 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 18,115
COFF
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 18,115 |
If there really are multiple ways to build the thing, you may have to look at multiple patents to protect yourself. A patent for an idea or concept is much more difficult to defend than a patent on a specific design.
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: JavelinJ]
#13693518
09/07/20 04:39 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 29,829
Duck_Hunter
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 29,829 |
You could start a Kickstarter campaign, where consumers pay you now so you have funding to develop your product, then they get it the first ones off the line at a discounted price. This helps you get up and running. There are probably other ways to get more conventional investors involved, if that’s the route you want to take.
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: JavelinJ]
#13693522
09/07/20 04:41 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,654
Tiltman
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,654 |
Make a retro fit option, then go lobby states to require it make millions
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: JavelinJ]
#13693554
09/07/20 05:16 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,654
Tiltman
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,654 |
Jack some things are meant to stay secret........
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: hopalong]
#13693555
09/07/20 05:19 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 10,278
Siberman
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 10,278 |
draw it out in detail and copyright your drawings then apply for patent.
working model helps a ton for patent.
get the paperwork done then market it to boat mfrs. or retailers or whatever the target market is, if it is a great idea you can probably sell it to a co. pat pending.
^^^^^ this . Cousin came up with the EZ Step and is doing quite well now .
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: COFF]
#13693821
09/07/20 10:56 PM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,413
TCK73
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,413 |
If there really are multiple ways to build the thing, you may have to look at multiple patents to protect yourself. A patent for an idea or concept is much more difficult to defend than a patent on a specific design. This^^^^^ Also beware of Patent Pirates, they are usually Chinese people hired to find loopholes in newly acquired patents and then they end up suing you and either taking money or the patent over.
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Re: Can you sell an idea?
[Re: JavelinJ]
#13693824
09/07/20 10:58 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 22,230
Davedave
Bigfoot Seeker
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Bigfoot Seeker
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 22,230 |
I do not know how to get a patent. But, I want to guess what it is. My guess is it’s a catapult to be able to lob engine blocks at wakeboard boats. Am I correct? What do I win? I want something cool.
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