New Idea--What should I do?

[panski master]

I thought of a cool idea (invention)for ice fishing. To get a patent on the idea I think would be a waste of time because its pretty small and simple. I heard it costs a lot of money and I don't have to cash flow to get it started. My questions is... Instead trying to market the idea would I be better off showing it to one of the big ice companies, Clam, Frabil, Otter and get there opinion? If they like it, let them market it for say a fish house and a suit for at least giving them the idea. Maybe they will look at it, say no thanks and next year I will see it on one of there websites. I do know someone a little from one of the companies, maybe I should contact him. I know it won't make millions but it is something I think someone could sell for $15.00-$20.00. I'm sure everyone wants to know what it is. All I'll say is it will help out those who like to ice fish....

[pushbutton]

Ideas are a dime a dozen....lots of good ideas out there....when i was younger dreamed up a ton of them sitting on the couch. It is how much you believe in them and how truly practical and realistic they are as far as production, distribution, packaging, marketing, retailing, yada, yada, yada. First off patents are becoming a joke, while not crazy expensive, you could always self patent it, but most often if an idea is that good and profitable, some large corp. will just tweek it and call it their own, leaving you to pay big time to fight it. Secondly, highly doubt you would get anywhere getting anything from a large outfit for just an idea. Again, the idea is the easy part, it is all the other stuff from the couch to the store that is the real work. If it truly is a simple great idea, i would make a bunch and try to sell them to local outfits and run with it,or then try to present it to a larger manufacturer/supplier.

[silverbulletguy]

I think you'd be better off trying to make or find someone to make them for you and hit the streets and try to sell them. There are a lot of smaller companies trying to stay afloat and might be willing to take a chance to come up with the next big thing and make it big. The tough part is gonna be finding the right company and selling your idea to them. The nice thing about fishing is there are tons of small independent bait shops that would be willing to give it a shot if it's not too expensive and it's something they could make money on too.

The other big factor in it is how many would every angler want to have. If it's several, your possibilities are much greater.

[silverbulletguy]

And do you have a "catchy" memorable name for it? -------GO FISH ! !

[panski master]

I guess I should have said that I have one pretty much made. I have to buy one thing from fleet farm so I can put it all together. If we had ice I would test it but I can sit in my garage to get the full effect. I am really surprised nobody (from the big ice companies)thought of this yet. I have used parts from my xtra ice fishing supplies to make it. All of the items I used were all manufactured by companies for ice fishing but nobody put the items together. I don't think I could buy these things, assemble them together, and resell them as my own. Now if I new someone who worked with plastic molding I could have them made, sell them and run with it.

[panski master]

I would say half the anglers would want one and all they need is one. As for a catchy name well....still working on that.

[cps420us]

Panski, Protomold in Maple Plain can make you a rapid prototype mold, contact them.

[McGurk]

I've had a couple of ideas rolling around in my head, too. I have the same reservations that you do about the whole patenting and covering your expense and actually getting your claim to stick. But, no one made money letting a good idea sit and rot away to nothing, either.

[reinhard1]

i haven't checked into the patening end of a new idea yet but will. i have three things in mind. i can make these at home and will test them on the water and then go from there. labeling, packaging, ect, the whole deal. one item i have made before and was very effective but the other two have to be tested. nothing is gained if you dont take a chance and make an effort. if you have a product that works it will sell. good luck.

[redhooks]

Patents may be overrated, change any product 10% and its a new product,someone will always copy a good idea and sell a knockoff cheaper. I think you're better off forgetting the patent and make a batch and start selling them. If your in the invention game keep moving ahead

with new innovations and stay ahead of the competition. Good luck.

[Northlander]

Make it and hope it sells good for a year or two before someone knocks it off and sells it under a new name with a few little changes. Look what happened to Ice Buster Bobbers a few years back. Simple little foam bobber idea did great for a few years then several other changes were made to it and are now sold under a few different names all over the states.

Happens to all sorts of fishing goodies all the time.

[BuckyBadger]

Here are a couple threads from last season when people were talking about similar items. Also I know there have been a few references to patent/copyright attorneys that have experience with outdoor gear.

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/2449119/Searchpage/3/Main/256419/Words/invention+%2BPatent/Search/true/Re_Patenting_a_new_product#Post2449119

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/2577622/Searchpage/1/Main/265444/Words/invention+%2BPatent/Search/true/Re_Patent_or_copyright_attorne#Post2577622

I work with our patent attorneys a lot at my job, our engineers have to protect new ideas that they come up with. Some of the simple advice the attorneys give us until more formal items are put together are…

• Date/Time/Signature; put a Date/Time and sign everything that you scribble ideas on, take pics of samples and date and sign them etc. Did I mention they tell us to Date/Sign everything??

• They also suggest mailing yourself a letter/certified envelope with these items in them (make copies to keep) when you receive them don’t open the letter, put it in a safe (we bring them to the patent attorneys). The USPS date stamp that is put on the envelopes act as a nice “proof of date” when it comes to patent application and there needs to be proof of the “when” if there are conflicts.

These are just some simple suggestions while you figure out what direction you want to go.