Tip 12 – “Review & Revise”
Blog By Kristen Ayres
You’ve got the idea! It’s unique and has wow factor, and now you want to move forward with patenting and commercialization. I encourage you to do so, but before you invest time and money, spend time critically thinking about your invention. Just imagine your favorite book if the author had published the first draft. Or a movie before editing. They’re typically made better through the editing process, and the same principle may benefit you and your invention.
How do you review your product? It’s easy. First, start by reading through all your notes and information pertaining to the invention, and at the same time review any sketches you’ve made. While doing this keep in mind the Tips for Inventing and other information you’ve learned. Undoubtedly, ideas will arise about elements of your invention that can be improved, added to or even removed.
During this review process the goal is to identify areas for improvement and/or simplification. For instance, are there any unnecessary parts that may increase the costs and complication of production that can be eliminated? Are there feasible variations that need to be included? Will a zipper work just as well as Velcro? Can plastic be used in place of aluminum?
The purpose of reviewing and revisiting your product before proceeding is two-fold. Purpose one is to ensure the best version of your product, as well as relevant variations, are protected in your patent application. Purpose two is to ensure that your invention will be appealing to potential licensing companies. You only get one chance to make a first impression so let’s make it a great one!
When you’ve completed your review, revise your notes to reflect any modifications you’ve made. Ensure your notes and sketches reflect your latest information and thoughts. This process is important to your invention’s overall success. We’re here to help so don’t hesitate to contact us if you need invention assistance or have any questions. We can help you patent your idea, market it, and negotiate for royalties.
We hope you enjoyed Tip #12. Please consider sharing this information as it may benefit an inventor you know. If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. Helping inventors is all we do!
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