| History has shown that inventions have been the | | | | marketing the product. For over six months, we |
| stimulus that started many small businesses in | | | | visited private entities and government agencies that |
| America. Products and services have been invented | | | | utilized life vests to show them the prototype vest |
| as planned inventions, but in many cases, the | | | | that he invented. Although everyone seemed to like |
| necessity to improve a process or increase | | | | the product, there was no interest in purchasing the |
| productivity has been the main reason for inventions. | | | | vest. After numerous meetings, I decided to find a |
| Once an item has been invented, the inventor must | | | | diver to show him the vest. After looking over the |
| then determine if it is beneficial to go through the | | | | vest, the diver stated that the fact that the vest |
| process of obtaining a patent. A patent is a | | | | was 1.5 pounds lighter was not a motivating factor |
| protected monopoly granted to the inventor of a | | | | that would make him purchase a new vest. |
| device or a process. A patent carries the strongest | | | | The inventor of the vest was an individual who went |
| protection of any type of registered intellectual | | | | diving on vacation with friends and family once in a |
| property and the monopoly lasts between 14 and 20 | | | | while, but did not understand the day-to-day needs |
| years, depending on the type of the invention. There | | | | of a professional diver. To a casual diver, a 1.5 |
| are four requirements for a patent that the inventor | | | | pounds lighter life vest was a great improvement, |
| of a product must consider before he decides | | | | but not to individuals who dive for a living. Obviously, |
| whether he should apply for a patent with the US | | | | proper due diligence was not done by the inventor or |
| Patent and Trademark Office. | | | | me. |
| 1. Is your idea in the five statutory classes: process | | | | The inventor decided to submit the life vest for a |
| or method, machine, manufacture, composition, new | | | | patent, but was denied. Inventors must have proper |
| use? | | | | knowledge about an industry and its products before |
| 2. Is your idea useful, commercially useful, or | | | | they leap to the determination that a product or |
| ornamental? | | | | service is needed and ultimately will survive in a |
| 3. Is your idea novel? Does it have any aspect that is | | | | commercial market. The inventor should do all the |
| different from previous inventions and knowledge? | | | | research necessary to determine that he thoroughly |
| 4. Is your idea unobvious? Would someone with | | | | understands the needs of the industry in which he |
| ordinary skill in the area of your proposed patent | | | | intends to market his new product. Once he believes |
| think of your idea? | | | | that he has exhausted every option in understanding |
| The requirement to determine whether there are | | | | his desired market, the inventor must then test the |
| any aspects of the invention that are different is the | | | | product utilizing experts in the industry. Once these |
| most difficult hurdle to cross. Several years ago, I | | | | steps are taken to determine that there are aspects |
| met a gentleman at a trade show who invented a life | | | | that are different from previous inventions and |
| vest, which, I believe, was a great idea, because he | | | | knowledge, the inventor will meet the requirement of |
| was able to decrease the weight of the life vest by | | | | number 3 listed above. The inventor should then have |
| 1.5 pounds. I believed in this product so much that I | | | | confidence in submitting a patent application. |
| decided to assist him with obtaining financing and | | | | |