Have you ever invented something?

[novacthall]

Like many young engineers, I border between "too creative for my own good" and "dangerously creative", which tends to manifest itself in (usually) several good ideas that could potentially be useful. A vast majority of them, I would say, have either already been invented or simply suck, but unless I work at it and try, I'll never hit anything.

My challenge, though, is not in coming up with great/silly ideas. My challenge lies in figuring out how the heck to walk my idea along the processes to becoming physically manifest. I understand that what works for one person may not work nearly as well for the next, but often times a beginning process is all it takes to refine what works for you.

Have you ever invented anything, and if so, how did you take your idea from a concept in your head to a working design? No need to say what it is if you wish, or even if it was successful. I'm just looking for some ideas.

 

[Safeway]

Don't buy one of those inventors' submission packets. They charge you $1000 to steal your idea, and ship you a book.

 

[Hammerhead]

I've also wondered this. How do I take an idea to reality? How do I get it fabricated?

 

[Jeraden]

I invent lots of stuff in my head. Just the other day I invented this idea:

(cut and paste from an email I sent a friend about it
You know in the Buffy show and most vampire movies, where the vampires all die by a quick wooden stake to the heart? Why don't they put some kind of protective clothing on to prevent that? Like a bullet proof vest for vampires. They'd just need to put some kind of metal plate on over their chest in front of their heart. Doesn't even need to be big. It would just slide under their clothing and protect the heart area in the front and the back and they could wear it like a bra sort of. Sure, they can still die from sunlight or decapitation, but the majority of the deaths on buffy were from stabbing, so this seems like a no-brainer. I'll add that to my invention list.

 

[Hammerhead]

?You have a mat, and it?s got some conclusions written on it, and you back up next to the mat, and think about a question, and then you jump to a conclusion. Right there on the mat, you jump to a conclusion??

 

[Juno]

yes, a paper clip.

 

[Al Neri]

Only a hilarious refrigerator alarm.... :\

 

[lozina]

yeah actually I have an idea to improve an existing product but have no idea how to proceed. would love to hear what to do to start the process

 

[VTHodge]

I've got an idea that could be commercially viable. But I'm not telling. Maybe someday I'll get back to working on it.

 

[jjones]

I invented the question mark.

 

[dullard]

There are a ton of ways to do it. It just depends on the level of risk you are willing to take and the potential profit you want to have.

1) Go to a company in that field and tell them your great idea. No risk, and since you just gave away your idea for free, no profit.

2) Go to a company in that field, sign an agreement that protects your idea, and tell them your great idea. Very little risk, but the chance of doing this is slim, and even if you do it is only an unproven idea, they won't pay you much if anything.

3) Protect your idea (patents, copyrights, trademarks, etc). Go to a company in that field and sell them your protections. That is, you sell them licenses to your patents, etc. You risk spending all the money on the protections (patents are damn expensive). But, you can make a quick buck by outright selling it or a slow but larger amount of money with royalties if the idea takes off (or both).

4) Protect your idea, and start building it. If you can't do it, hire people to work for you or farm out the tasks to other companies. Sell your working prototype and the licenses to your protections to a company in the field. You stand to lose a lot (hiring people/outsourcing work is expensive plus the patent costs). However, you can gain a lot more from the idea because you have already proven it to work.

5) Protect your idea, start building it, and sell it on your own. That is, start your own industry. Lots and lots and lots of risk. But you get to keep every last cent of profit.

Pick a path and go down it. You can always choose a different path on your next idea.

 

[mooglekit]

Yeah...but Apple stole it, so now I'm screwed...

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: mooglekit
Yeah...but Apple stole it, so now I'm screwed...

now you can sue

 

[Majesty]

As I type this, I am inventing something that people will be able to read! Awesome!