[Closed] I’ve invented something. Approaching companies advice.

Patent it.

Cake detector?

Post up here and we'll tell you if it's anygood

Go and speak to a specialist IP lawyer. They’ll guide you on how to protect your interests and exploit it commercially.

Well done for coming up with something new. & good luck..!

Patent it.
Then sit down and read all the previous patents that might apply.

scotroutes - Member

Patent it.
Then sit down and read all the previous patents that might apply.

Or, be an American and just ignore all that stuff

Why do you need someone like alpkit?

Patent/IP lawyer will be pretty costly and take time. Plus you have to have the funds to enforce it.

I remember Mr Crud saying that he didn’t patent the crud catcher as it would cost too much to chase all the infringements.

Pretend that half the profits from your sales will go to a children's charity.

It’s an Alpkit kind of thing and I really don’t have the knowledge of how to get it mass produced.
I thought of it in my sleep last night and knocked it up in an hour for £6.
Amazingly there are absolutely no down sides to it and I’ve not seen it anywhere else.

Or, be an [s]American[/s] Chinese and just ignore all that stuff

Chinese 'Range Rover Evoque'
[img] http://db.carbuzz.com/images2/500000/6000/900/506998.jp g" target="_blank">http://db.carbuzz.com/images2/500000/6000/900/506998.jp g"/> [/img]

I'll have 2 please! 1st dibs!

Pedal powered egg poacher?

So spend a day, make ten, spend a week make 100. ( you’ll get better/quicker at it before you pick up on my maths). Set up a website/Facebook and start flogging them direct.

If it’s an alpkit type thing then I’m guessing you aren’t going to make millions from it. Probably not worth the hassle of trying to protect it. Be the first, make a name for yourself. If you get copied it’s because your onto something good.

Headlights for horses?

Last week I knocked up something to improve my cycling experience in about an hour or so. Materials cost less than 50p. I put a couple of photos on Facebook and immediately had three folk wanting one 🙂

It does show that there are still ideas and concepts that seem too niche but might have some wider appeal after all.

What you need sir is an NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement). I believe the UK patent office may have a reasonably generic template one available to download.
Get a list of companies you think might be interested. Find out who the best person to approach at said company is.
Do not talk to anyone about the idea without both of you signing a copy of the NDA. You will need to put a time limit on the NDA but 20 years should suffice. If you haven't done anything with the idea in that time you probably never will.
Arrange meeting with company representative once NDA is in place and share your idea freely. Make them aware you are talking to other companies (no need to tell them who).
Be clear about what you want from any deal, and how flexible you would be. Are you looking for a royalty / job (to stay involved in the development) / cash sum for the idea.... etc

The product manager at alpkit was jay oram (jay at alpkit.com)

To be honest with you without having at least a prototype of your idea the chances of a rewarding deal are slim. You may want to consider finding a innovative friend to get the idea mocked up (under NDA of course). I would recommend paying them for helping out if possible as by you paying for the work they will have less recourse to claim the idea was theirs

I’ve got a mock up,it’s on my bike and works perfectly.

Perfect, a read up on intellectual property at the patent office website is a good idea. NDA is the way forward.
I agree with other people's sentiment that unless you have deep corporate pockets a patent may not make sense for an idea that isn't worth millions.

Busting to know what it is but I know you can't tell me....Gahhhh!!

I generally come up with ideas after a few beers that seem genius at the time.... then wake up and realise what a complete t*t I was when drunk! lol

Dragons den?

Sausage roll holder?

No point trying to patent it unless you can afford to defend it, which is unlikely. And patents aren't cheap, and cost more the longer you keep them going.
I'd try and make it myself, but it wouldn't be easy, or pay someone to develop it for me, but this would cost.

I thought of it in my sleep last night and knocked it up in an hour for £6.

Or do it oldskool.

You have a prototype.

Patent it.

Make 20 more and give them away to people who might appreciate them and spread the word. If all goes well..

Get a local engineering firm with the right equipment to knock out a limited run, try to flog it via forums and social media, group buy discounts etc.

If it goes well, rent a shed /small industrial unit and buy some machinery so you can knock them out yourself in larger volume.

Hmmmm...

I reckon its got to be a holder/ mount for something.

First work out if it's viable. It doesn't matter how good it is, if it costs too much no one will buy it.
Estimate the cost to make it. Add a mark up.
Will people pay this for it?

How is it made? Is it moulded in plastic? If so, tooling could be many £1000's, but the parts will be pence each. Is it still viable if you include tooling costs?

If it's a self stabilising gyroscopic handle bar mounted beer holder, I'm in.

Can you post a pic up of it wrapped up? I was great at guessing my Christmas presents as a kid.:D

On a more serous note, is it so easy to make that most people will just make one at home after seeing the item on sale?

You know what skin flints bikers can be on occasion! lol

Yes you could make it but it needs a pro to make it something you'd be happy to put on your posh bike.

Is it a lightweight aero chassis that perches on the rider and bike? 😆

My parents next door neighbour invented the wind-up radio. AFAIK even though he did well out of it there was some IP issue along the way, so much so that he set up a company to help inventors not get stitched up.

Don't know any specifics, only of its existence: [url= http://www.trevorbaylisbrands.com/ ]http://www.trevorbaylisbrands.com/[/url], might be worth a look

Unlikely it’s patentable (or usefully patentable) if you just came up with it and made it with no problems in an hour.

Also likely alpkit will not be interested in signing an NDA (and certainly not a 20 yr one) for a product they have never seen or had described to them. Even if they do the definition of the confidential information is likely to be difficult without being too narrow to do anything other than prevent a direct mm perfect copy or so broad they won’t sign it.

Unless there is really loads of money in it then Niche Facebook offering to prove a market, or gentlemanly discussion with alpkit to assess interest is the way to go.

Sausage roll holder

Stupid idea. Pork pie holder on the other hand, now that is something that I could get behind!

For £6 I'd have one. Even though I've no idea what it is!!

Here's my bike related invention. You can make your own for free. I'm sure it's been done but never seen one. I give you... the 11 speed keyring!

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I would speak to a patent attorney. A good one should give you sensible advice about your invention, NDAs and some commercial advice. They do this sort of thing every day. They will also often give some time for free on an initial consultation. It’s what I would do...I am one.

That’s handy!

I had a bike chain key ring when I was 14 (1988) although it was a bmx chain.

davros - Member

Here's my bike related invention. You can make your own for free. I'm sure it's been done but never seen one. I give you... the 11 speed keyring!

Damn you, I've been happy using my 7 speed locks for years, now I need a new house

Zippy..... Are we cunningly being used as your initial subliminal advertising campaign?

Getting to the point where I'll pay you £6 to know what the invention is! 😀 😉

For the cost of a patent you could get the first batch of production parts made.
If you don't know how, ask one of the many engineers on here to help.
All the patent will give you is a piece of paper with your name on you can frame and stick on a wall. It will not stop someone else copying your idea.