patent on invention

patent on invention
this weekend my wife and I were in a movie. The film was a movie trailer touting a soon released production based on the invention of the intermittent windshield wiper." Such a theme for a big budget Hollywood movie would be terribly mundane. But the trailer was a very interesting insight into a subject that has deep meaning for every entrepreneur, inventor or dreamer.

Robert Kearns was a university professor and an engineer with a passion for tinkering. He had the eye in one eye when a champagne cork had plunged directly into his eyes. In 1963, while driving in a heavy rain, he noticed that the steady and continuous pace of the wiper blades sweeping water from the windscreen, causing his eyes to lose focus.

At this time, wipers only worked with a uniform rate of speed. Like fog, light rain came and the driver had to manually turn off the transmitter and the device to the speed of the blades. Kearns had stumbled into a chance at a fairly basic, but necessary to improve an existing auto-safety feature.

At home in his workshop, Mr. Kearns created a prototype of his "intermittent windshield wiper" "system. Once perfected, he filed patents and began the great American companies, the auto-license for his invention. He showed the device for Chrysler and Ford, and provided each with its own data on his device. After an internal debate between Robert Kearns also recommended that his device was not of interest, and they would be able to grant a license.

Much to Mr. Kearns shock and anger, he was amazed to discover that in 1969 the Ford Motor Company began to sell "Intermittent Wiper" Featured as accessories for their new models. The technology was remarkably like his art. Thus began a legal odyssey, which consume Robert Kearns life, his fortune and his health.

This is where this story has relevance for all the current needed to market a new product or invention. The invention of the mechanized original wiper was the birth of a "divergent product." The invention of the telephone, television, radio, or the combustion bore "various products". They created alpha opportunities. The addition of color televisions, answering machines to telephones to radios and clocks are examples of "convergent" products. "Convergent Products are simple, product enhancements, which are often very valuable as wealth generators. Robert Kearns' intermittent wiper "is a wonderful example of" convergent product. "

He had not invented the windshield wiper, but had simply performance elements which found motorists would add safety, comfort and ease on the journey in a variety of climatic conditions. Unfortunately, he had not entirely isolated from his invention predatory commercial vultures.

Patent law is a very specific practice. There is a reason Patentanwalt not usually with other categories of legal work. The Kearns vs. Ford Motor Company patent suit was arduous and tortured. The patent law principle of "obviousness" was the center of the dispute. Ford argued that Kearns invention "obvious", a device from the existing components. Simply put, Kearns that his organization of these elements, the new and really, that his unit is not "obvious" until he invented it.

It took until 1995 for the Robert Kearns to prevail. The case is regarded as a milestone. The example of a single person, on a large, international companies Behemoth, and to win was amazing, exciting and myth breaking. Ford paid Mr. Kearns $ 30 million. Robert Kearns spent $ 10 million for attorney's fees to fight the case to a successful conclusion.

There are many lessons for the inventor, are here on their ideas and products.

Protect your intellectual property

Use Non-Disclosure Agreements

Are you looking for professional legal assistance for patents, trademarks, copyright

File Trade Secrets
Definition of a paper trail

Detail of every meeting and phone calls with a written re-cap for each

Person

Save all of the entrance for FedEx, phone log, etc.
Building a quality production, the prototypes of the invention-DO NOT CUT CORNERS HERE!
3D-art Computer Assisted Design (CAD) with all the legal filings
Always assume that others are working on similar inventions and protection
Your Interests

Let's take a look at hundreds of inventions and new product submissions each year in our consulting business. A fair proportion of these presentations have real commercial value and successful marketing could be. Most, however, are never a store shelf, because the creators do not take appropriate steps to protect and market their opportunity.

Robert Kearns has. He had a simple idea for a "convergent product." He has begun to take steps to his invention. When he woke, he took up the fight. Because of his success and the courage, it is now much easier to fight and win against the "big boys".

Each of us sees or experience opportunities almost every day in our work or personal environment. Most of us are not aware or do not recognize opportunity when it appears. For the few who do, and have the courage to act will be rewarded by the market demands that new products and concepts.

I can not wait to see the film.

Geoff Fick was a serial entrepreneur for almost 50 years. As a small boy, earning his money doing odd jobs in the neighborhood, he learned the value of selling himself, offering service and value for money.

After the University of Kentucky (BA Broadcast Journalism, 1969) and in the United States Marine Corp, Mr. Fick began a career in the cosmetics industry. After rising to National Sales Manager for Vidal Sassoon Hair Care at the age of 28, then a number of companies, including Rubigo Cosmetics, Parfums Pierre Wulff Paris, Le Bain Couture and Fashion Fragrance.

Geoff Fick and his consulting firm, Duquesa Marketing, Inc. (http://www.duquesamarketing.com), with the support of large and small companies, domestic and international, entrepreneurs, inventors and students in the development of new products, investments, licenses marketing - sales and business plans and successful implementation of his customized strategies. He is a Senior Fellow at the Page Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Business School, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.