I have some free time and I want to invent something. I want to invent and print something that is small and cheap but is functional and solves a problem. I am looking for people who enjoys doing the technical side and can give me some tips along the way. I am not familiar with solidworks, CAD, and all of the other programs. Is anyone interested?
So basically you have no idea what your doing. Not a formula for success. Just a thought from someone with ~ 3 dozen patents.
I have no idea of what I am doing ... yet. What better way to learn than doing something small scale with someone much smarter than myself. Also, 3 dozen patents is impressive. I would love to hear how you got into investing.
Yeah that might be fun. Also don't let the other commenter get to you. I think it's good that you wanna test out your creativity.
Do you have an idea or an outset for the invention?
Thank you. I can come up with a bunch of ideas. Right now the time is 3:26 pm and I will come up with a few right now. Idea #1: A small plastic triangle platform that can attach to staplers. this will allow you to place your papers down on the platform and it will stop them from becoming unorganized and messy looking when you press staple them. Idea#2: A clip on the leg of sunglasses this way you can securely store them on a baseball hat and it won't fall out. Idea #3 a ring that helps you remember things. When you want to remember something you can tighten it just a bit so that way you feel uncomfortable and will remember what you need to(sort of like the string around the finger trick) Idea #4: a coaster with a slight circular protrusion. This will make the drink on top of it more stable and less likely to spill. I made those up in the past 15 minutes. Most of my time was spent trying to type it out. Those examples I gave suck and I do not want to make them. I will think of a good idea soon.
I kinda like the ring Idea. Thinking out loud, it could built with an aperture (see circle drawing tool link at bottom). I'd put movement stops so it couldn't get too tight. Maybe have it shrinks one ring size and back. it could be cool if it had an inner moving track that would control the tightness. Could also be usefully for people whose fingers swell/contact a lot or have large knuckles. Make it snug for comfort and wearing around, loosen to take it off.
That's a great idea. As people grow older their fingers shrink and their wedding rings are not as snug and during pregnancy fingers swell. The ring could be marketed as a wedding ring that can be worn comfortably throughout all of your life. You have done a lot of patents, do you think a jewelry company would buy it if it was patented?
Oh, I think you crossed tom's in this stream.. I actually do have a few to my profession record as well, but they are the IP of the companies that I worked for. I was the primary contributor, but I also had an in-house legal team to do the paperwork and filing.
Inventor for hire as an engineer. Zip loc sandwich bag process is the first. Started building the plant when they found didn't have a process so had 9 months to define a process, ~ one yr. out of college. Basically stepped up to the challenge is what I did. Then you learn how to go about it. I call it looping. Get an idea, then become the hardest critic, address the problems or/and develop a simple test, define related alternatives when a problem develop ahead of time. Expect to find too many problems and stop one idea, move to another idea, and you will often go back to an idea that you set stopped earlier. Every idea has problems.
My inventions are far more technical. The key to success is to know the customer really really really well. Meet that customers needs. Most failed products compromise those needs. Example is setting the time in your car. I still have to take out the owners manual twice a year. Then is it at a cost you can make money.
You should assume that you will not find someone you can work with in this early stage. So buy a 3D printer and learn to model in 3D cad. Many low cost programs. I use FreeCAD but it is aimed that more technical people. The modeling portion is separate so you do not have to use anything else. It really isn't that hard and most have good training youtube tutors.
The advantage of doing the preliminary modeling is that you can fix a problem when you find them quickly and do not have to wait for someone else to do it. Dynamical creating products.
Inventing is one thing, trying to get investment is something completely different. Dyson is a great example, finding it near impossible to get the funding he needed. Those pompous investors who dismissed his vision must be kicking themselves. I digress. I’ve designed a product, patent pending, unique and transforms a particular industry, 3D printable prototypes completed for perfect demonstration, but can I find an investor in the UK? Can I nuts! If I don’t already run a company, have employees, have completely removed all risk, have a full order book, no matter how unique and perfect a design I have created, then they are not interested. A great product so far gathering dust. Saying that, my family and friends use my device all the time, completely replacing the way they used to do a particular task. So all I would say is good luck. Now, as Dyson had to, I have to look overseas for investment with all the rip off concerns that this presents. No offence - you make it sound easy, it is anything but easy. If you have between £250k and £1m to invest, I’d be happy to discuss my design lol.
Hey, ever since I bought my 3D printer i was able to earn from its products. I am designing my own useful designs with CAD files then print it and someone buys it. I hope we can help each other here.
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