If you’ve ever wanted to kick yourself after you’ve come up with a neat idea or invention — but then saw it on the store shelves or TV a few years later — then this Web site is for you.
Hi. I’m Eric Knight. You’ve probably seen me on TV. Maybe on the Late Show with David Letterman. CNN. The Discovery Channel. The BBC. I’m a successful inventor and entrepreneur. And you can be too! I’m not going to charge you a single penny for the information. Honest!
Unlike many self-help guides on the Web — where the goal is to make the authors rich by selling you their “how to invent” books — I’m going to do something radical: I’m not going to sell you a thing. Nothin’. Nada.
I’ve done well as an inventor and entrepreneur, and now one of my goals in life is to communicate how I did it via this Web site for no cost. (I apologize if I tick off those authors looking to make money selling you this same information. Oh, well.) Just read the growing list of articles on this Web site. (I’m adding topics as quickly as I type). I’ll do my best to guide you through the process of inventing, marketing, and selling your inventions. Scroll the article list below.
My intent is to write articles that cover how to conduct a patent search, steps to get an invention patent, how to file a patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office, and other general information on how to patent an idea.
Need answers to your specific questions? Please ask them right here in my blog. Don’t worry if you think your question is rudimentary. Don’t be shy. I truly enjoy helping people bring their ideas to life.
Sincerely,
Eric Knight
Hello I have an idea that will help the parents as well as the child. It’s a [CONTENT MASKED]. How do I get that patent and get the help i need to get started for free as i don’t have the monetary means to get started.
Ruth
Georgia
Hi Ruth.
Thank you for your question. You’ll note that I masked the details of your invention — as you don’t want to be sharing your idea in a public forum until (minimally) you have filed for a patent.
Well, you can dramatically lower your cost to get a patent by following the advice in this (and other) online informational resources. But, no matter what you do, you will still need to pay for filings fees and such with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Click on the following link to see an itemization of fees http://www.howtopatent.pro/2010/03/how-much-does-a-patent-cost/.
I hope the above info is helpful. I wish you the best of luck with your invention.
– Eric
Thanks to your blog I’ve changed my approach for performing a patent search and have been looking at the Class and Subclass identifiers. I recently found an invention that is very close to what I have in mind, so I figured the Class/Subclass would be a good one to check out. Turns out there is no such Subclass identifier listed in the USPTO listing under the specified Class – how can that be? [Class/Subclass is 128/151]
Hi Scott.
Thank you for your question.
There could be a number of reasons that a Class / Subclass listed on a particular patent is not findable in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database. For instance, it could be an older patent, and the subclass may have been deemed obsolete by the USPTO. Or it could just be a re-organization / consolidation of subclasses by the USPTO.
Let me take this moment to provide a link to the Class / Subclass database search tool provided by the USPTO. Here it is: http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/
I’m glad you’re finding this blog helpful. Best of luck in your invention endeavors!
– Eric
is it safe to go with a company that helps patent my idea?
Hello Eric,
Today I just woke up and an idea struck me. Since I have been trying to search and see if the idea is taken. So far I feel lucky but I really want to pursue this. However, it is only the idea of the product that I can provide. I don’t have the means to draw or create this invention. I just have the idea and know that it is in fact possible with current technology. Is it possible to patent this idea and sell it to someone who can actually make it?
Hi Adrian.
Thank you for your question.
Ideas, themselves, can’t be patented. Only actual, created things. Somehow or another it is necessary to physically create the invention you have conceived. In patent lingo, it is called “reduction to practice”. Here’s a description http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduction_to_practice.
Some inventors team up with someone (or a company) to jointly create the device — and then cooperatively file for a patent. That involves some risk — as you are exposing your idea to another person or company. There are contractual ways to help minimize that risk. One way is through what is called a non-disclosure agreement (or “NDA”). But agreements, as such, do not provide iron-clad protection.
Browse through some of the other posts on my site for related information. If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Glad to help.
– Eric
Hi Patricia.
As in any business, there are good and less-than-good service suppliers. Before involving yourself with any company, I would strongly encourage that you to check them out thoroughly. Google is a great resource. Search for people who have expressed their thoughts, reviews, etc. I would also suggest contacting the Better Business Bureau in the state that the company is based — and ask them to provide you with the information that they have on file.
Best of luck with your invention.
– Eric