[G4B]

I have an idea, and have been meaning to make it reality, rather than just on paper. Where can I get a prototype of a flexible plastic moulding done cheaply, as well as them not taking my idea and running with it.

What things do I need to put in place. NDAs for what they are work may not stop it from being leaked out and ending up on a production line in a far east country with me having no hope of producing this idea. Afterall, all good ideas eventually become duplicated, but I must admit my idea came about when I was trying to sort something out in the house, and what a mess, this idea enables you to achieve the end goal without any mess, nice and tidy and would be cheap to manufacture, with a price tag of about £1.99 to £3.99 maybe more or less, and could be sold to all diy stores or exclusive to some of the bigger ones.

Any information, feedback, etc would be most beneficial. I understand that a patent could take a long while to setup?

[Calibre Designs]

Hi Julian,

To have a product designed, marketed and launched is a tedious, whining, complicated and frustrating process.

Ask Fee...

Are you sure about it? What is the maximum size of your product and the wall thickness. This is critical for me to know before I can point you in the right direction.

Will the product be injection moulded?

Cheers

Kay

[G4B]

Hi Kay

The design is relatively simple on the outside, but requires some tough moulding at one end on the inside, but ideally needs to be one unit for strength, so I very much doubt it would work being 2 parts, although thinking about it, the main part plus an attachment that could be any length, so 7cm, then attachment 30-60 cm

Ideally I'd like to start with a tough plastic version, but later could be turned into something a bit stronger, but this would then impact the cost of producing the product, as well as the retail.

Originally Posted by Calibre Designs

Hi Julian,

To have a product designed, marketed and launched is a tedious, whining, complicated and frustrating process.

Ask Fee...

Are you sure about it? What is the maximum size of your product and the wall thickness. This is critical for me to know before I can point you in the right direction.

Will the product be injection moulded?

Cheers

Kay

[Calibre Designs]

As long as the mould is designed so that the product can be released, you'll be fine. Two pieces can also add to strength. Can have a snap fit or glue fit.

The dimensions you want to achieve is too large for the company I deal with. They have facilities out in Shanghai who can mould. Intellectual property is respected due to the share holding of the company and the clients they supply to thus protecting their own reputation.

[Jeewhizz]

If it were me, I'd patent it before getting any NDA's signed. Can you afford to chase an NDA halfway across the world? If you had a patent, you'd find that many companies won't touch it if they thought they would get sued (bar the big wigs)

[Calibre Designs]

Originally Posted by Jeewhizz

If it were me, I'd patent it before getting any NDA's signed. Can you afford to chase an NDA halfway across the world? If you had a patent, you'd find that many companies won't touch it if they thought they would get sued (bar the big wigs)

Agree but in the perfect world, patenting something is a lengthy process. Could take up to 2 years and thats a lot of sales being lost. In my experience, patent pending has a much more powerful status. Let me try to explain further :

Patent Pending status : allows you to develop the product along the way and have it manufactured and sold. Your "concept" of the product is protected due to the status itself. That means that no one can file for a patent that is similar to your patent application.

Patented status : thats when the product has been accepted and granted as intellectual property. You will have a final case number which allows anyone and everyone to read the file. This is where you must make sure that the application is professionally done and made water tight. Why? Otherwise it allows people to read what you have done, see where they can improve on the idea and develop a variation of your product.

Location : I would protect the items for both the EU and the US territory depending on your market. There is no point in protecting it in Asia as there is little control for IP anyway. Money wasted in my opinion.

Getting NDAs signed whilst you have filed for a patent application allows you to develop the idea under a relative comfortable surrounding.

Hope this helps.

Kay

[fee]

i agree with kay......just get the patent into pending situation.....and get started.....

i personally wouldnt even bother going to full patent unless it was a massive seller..its just too expensive to police if anyone does breach it..

just the patent pending on the product label and literature is enough to put off copying imo.....

go for the quick sell and if successful you can consider full patent later on (i understand it can be in pending situation for 1 year - is that right kay?)

with pending situation you are free to discuss idea with developer underr NDA- but choose carefully....i'd recommend kay as he is genuine and honest and on here !! lol.. and manufacture in UK...a bit more expensive but keeps the idea in this country and supports british manufacturing which i believe is very important......
just my 2p worth.......

[Calibre Designs]

Hi Fiona,

i personally wouldnt even bother going to full patent unless it was a massive seller..its just too expensive to police if anyone does breach it..

Very true so it depends how far your vision is for your product. Expect too much and it will probably fail unless it is so unique that its the next "must have" or "could not live without".

I understand it can be in pending situation for 1 year - is that right kay?

I am not a patent attorney so I cannot confirm this point but I do think so and must be renewed (paying more fees no doubt)

with pending situation you are free to discuss idea with developer underr NDA- but choose carefully....i'd recommend kay as he is genuine and honest and on here !! lol..

Aaww Thanks

and manufacture in UK...a bit more expensive but keeps the idea in this country and supports british manufacturing which i believe is very important......

How great and is very true. You will have more control over the development of the product too.

[G4B]

Thanks for all your discussions on this. What I will do is more than likely just go for it, and not tell the people what the product is used for, make it to the dimensions required and then the packaging will reveal all. Believe me they wouldn't have a clue what it's used for, its not very obvious.

Then go for the patent pending approach.

[swood1]

Hi, G4B sounds like you have the right idea, you need to do as much as you can before applying for Pat. pending. A pat. pengin only lasts for 12 months which isnt very long if you got tools to make and a manufacturing site to setup etc, or even if your going to sell the rights to the idea to someone else. After the 12 months you have to make a decision on whether you are going to continue with the patent or let it die, if you get either of the above routes then you will obviously want to continue with the patent. Just remember that patent pending puts the proposed idea out into the market place anyway! its available online.

Also, have you spent some time looking at the product design? Its just that were possible its better to design register the product rather than getting a patent on it (namely cost is alot less and its alot less hassle).

Finally before you spend to much time on your product have you actually looked to see if there is a similar idea out there? I have spent many an hour in Birmingham's patent library, worth popping in, or atleast have a look online through the espace website.

Good luck,

Steve