Patent Attorney and Founder
So, you’re looking to invent something or maybe you’ll invent the next iPhone, or is it something more basic like a lock? Look, it’s really not as difficult as you might think. Knowing how to invent something may sound like a unique skill that only a small percentage of people are able to do, but it really isn’t. Anyone can invent something or come up with a unique idea worth pursuing. All it really takes is confidence, perseverance, and will.
Hello, everyone. My name is J.D. Houvener, a USPTO patent attorney, and I’m the managing partner and CEO at Bold Patents Law Firm. Today, I’ll be sharing with you 10 easy steps on how to invent something new. I’ll be sharing each of those 10 steps, and below in the description, I’ve broken out each step with a timestamp in case you want to jump ahead to that section. I’ve also written an in-depth blog article on this topic, so if you want to go deeper, it’s there for you as well.
Step 1: Believing in yourself, developing confidence, and getting a growth mindset. Look way out on the horizon, see that vision of what you’re going for, knowing that it just takes baby steps, even if they’re a little bit outside your comfort zone, to make that progress you need. And don’t forget to congratulate yourself on those many wins along the way. You are smarter than you think; you can do more than you believe. So keep building that confidence. You know, in Psychology, they call this self-efficacy.
It may be a good idea to surround yourself with people you trust to provide you with honest feedback. It can be inflating to have people around who only say “yes” to all your ideas all the time, telling you that every idea you have is a winner. It may be wiser to have people on your side who tell you when an idea can be better, stronger, or just needs to be reworked. Honest feedback is hard to come by sometimes, but it is vital to the development of your invention.
Step 2: Pay attention, write down the problems you’re having in life. What are the problems that you’re trying to solve? Look around you, what annoys you, what would make your life easier? These are all ways that you can start to solve problems and invent solutions. Now, there are solutions that are just waiting for you. There are things that are just everyday life that you could make better and better like you can actually create a solution for. It just takes a little bit of extra time. Don’t just go through it the way you always have; look around and find ways to find those solutions.
Step 3: Map out your solution. So, as you start to find these problems, figure out a way that your solution can create and get at the heart of that problem. How is it going to get and solve it for not just you, but for people like you? And as you start to expand that audience, that potential customer base, how can you envision that problem being solved in a universal way? Write those down as you start to iterate your invention and get to a solution that really is all-encompassing.
Step 4: Evaluate the value versus effort in solving your problem, and as I like to call it, ICE – Impact, Confidence, and Ease. So, as you start to develop several ideas, inventions of how to solve this problem you’ve so well articulated, you can start to review them and ask yourself, how much value will this be bringing to you? How much improvement will you see in the greater community and even the world at large versus how much effort it’s going to take you to do it? Is it really worth going through what you’re doing if it’s not going to result in that big of a result?
You want to focus on the inventions that take the least amount of effort and have the highest value and the biggest leverage. Go the extra mile and ask yourself the impact the project will have on a one to ten scale. What’s the impact, the confidence that you’ll have in your ability to solve the problem on a one to ten scale, and the ease of using it on the same type of relationship? Do you think that you’ll be able to solve this problem in a short amount of time or a long amount of time? Is this something that will take five to ten years, or can you actually see this getting off the ground running in the next six to 12 months? That’s how you can start to weigh the pros and cons of each invention solution set.
Step 5: Do basic market research. Sounds easy, but you’ve got to understand what consumers are buying right now. Not only that, but what industry does this solution really take part in, and is it a growing or shrinking industry? This doesn’t take an MBA or a business degree. You can go find out with market research by looking up big players in your industry. How are they reacting or changing as your industry or solutions might change? Do you believe that this invention has a product-market fit and why? Why would your solution be better than what the consumers are currently buying? Is this something that they already have a patent on? Maybe you’ve got some issues where you need to design around someone else. Jump onto Google patents and do a basic search on your own to get familiar with patents and the way they are articulated with regards to their claims and ownership.
Step 6: Do a professional patent search. Please don’t do it on your own. Hire a patent attorney to do a detailed worldwide patent search to save you time and money and to hire a professional to get it done the right way. As you probably don’t know, examiners will look worldwide. They will look at patent documents, non-patent documents to try to prove your invention has already been out there. Let’s do the work upfront before you spend the time and energy even applying for that patent to make sure what you’re going to be applying for is indeed novel before you even submit it.
Step 7: File a provisional patent application. Once you’ve confirmed what you’re doing isn’t unique and novel, if the patent search comes back positive, let’s move forward with a provisional patent application to get you that elusive patent-pending status. You get to ensure your invention is safe. The United States is the first to file, not first to invent, so don’t wait around if you’ve got something that is a solution, it’s got a big market, you’ve done the research. Let’s get to filing.
Step 8: Test your idea, test it again, then raise money. Prove the proof of concept. Can’t insist on how much testing is needed. The beauty of having a provisional patent application on file is being able to be flexible in that year of testing, market testing, consumer testing to try to make sure you’ve got the right solution long term. Now, once you do that, you can start to raise money. Once you’ve got some adoption, customers are actually saying, “I want one, I want one,” and start asking you for this. Now, you know the time is right. You’ve proven the concept.
Step 9: Decide whether you’re going to manufacture or license your idea. This is the decision point. You’ve worked so hard developing this invention. You know it’s novel; you’ve got your filing already secured. The question is, are you going to decide to open up your own business and manufacture and sell your products, or are you going to license your invention to someone else that may already be in the market? Maybe they’ve already done their research, have a supply chain, and you can simply license your invention to them. It’s key to understand those are very separate ideas. You’ve got to sort of draw that line in the sand of which direction you’re going.
Step 10: Filing your non-provisional patent application or design patent. The work here is to file the big kahuna. This is the work you’ve been leading up to the whole way and getting it filed over the way that the U.S. Patent Office will review it. And that’s it. You’ve made it. You were living to your purpose and protected and brought to market your vision or idea.
The Application Process for a Patent in the United States
Now that you have read through all the important steps you can take to visualize and conceptualize your invention, you may want a brief but significant rundown into how the patent application process works in the U.S. It can be a lengthy and confusing process, especially if you decide to go through it without the assistance of an experienced patent attorney.
You have already done your market research, figured out an effective and useful invention, and lived up to your own promise to yourself that you would see things through. Now, all that’s left is to fill out the patent application. It will require significant research, true dedication, and a great deal of personal investment. It can feel intimidating at times when you are trying to make your mark on the world, especially if you don’t know what you are looking for in the application.
That’s where an experienced patent attorney can come in and take charge of your application. After all, having someone with a wealth of experience come in and bring that experience to your case can only help you in the long run. You must make sure you pursue the right kind of patent for your invention. The last thing you want is for someone else to have the same epiphany you had and beat you to the punch.
An Attorney Is Critical
You already know to have a patent attorney do a thorough search to prove that your invention hasn’t already been created. This is a vital step. It is possible that you could spend countless hours developing an invention only to learn at the end that someone beat you to it years prior. If your invention has already been created by someone else, there is no way you could make any money off of it. Still, you should be proud you had an idea that is clearly a great one.
Make sure you file your patent application with the correct office. Depending on whether you are pursuing a utility, design, or plant patent, you may have to apply to different offices. It is important to note that you cannot legally patent naturally occurring phenomena, an abstract idea, or one of the laws of nature, as per a Supreme Court ruling. Once your application has been filed, the examination process may begin.
The patent examiner will look even deeper into your invention to find any discrepancies. If any concerns do arise, they will contact you to explain them. You and your patent attorney will have the opportunity to explain anything that could hurt your application. Once you are approved, your patent will last anywhere from 14 to 20 years, depending on your invention.
FAQs
How Do I Start an Invention?
The most important thing to remember when you are trying to invent something is to believe that you can do it. Self-confidence is one of the most important elements of creation, regardless of what you are trying to create. Take the time to develop a clear idea of what you want to invent. Be sure to document all your ideas, concepts, designs, and more. Develop a rough outline of a market strategy and continue pursuing your vision.
How Can I Invent Things?
Anyone can invent something if they just put their mind to it and believe they can accomplish it. You don’t need a professional education or experience working in a trade. All you really need to be an inventor is the will to create and a belief in yourself that you can actually do this. Developing a growth mindset can completely change the way you look at the world and approach your own thoughts as an inventor.
Is It Possible to Invent Something New?
It is absolutely possible to invent something new, but it won’t just happen overnight. It takes a great deal of determination and effort to invent something completely new. It is important to remember that every invention in the world since the beginning of human creativity was once a brand-new invention. It can be challenging to come up with something new, and it takes confidence to keep trying.
How Can I Invent Something That Hasn’t Been Invented?
There is no easy answer that explains how you can invent something that’s never been invented. Like anything worth doing, it will take a considerable amount of time, effort, and belief in yourself. There will be times when you may feel insecure or simply upset about an apparent lack of progress. The most effective thing you can do is keep thinking. Identify a problem in your life and try your hardest to think of a solution for it.
Reach Out to a Patent Attorney If You Have More Questions
A patent attorney can help you figure out your next steps when you have a viable invention that you wish to patent. It can be one of the most important and necessary steps you take to make sure you receive the proper credit for your invention. The team at Bold Patents can help you do what needs to be done for your pending patent.
Now, if you have any questions at all that remain, please click the link below and get a copy of my book, “Bold Ideas: Inventor’s Guide to Patents.” And if you want to book a free consultation, you can do that today on our website.