Patent Attorney and Founder
What materials should you use for your first prototype?
Hey, I’m JD Houvener—founder and patent attorney here at Bold Patents. I’ve been helping inventors for over a decade now, and in that time, we’ve helped clients land more than 500 patents. If you’re just getting started, check out the Bold Inventor Kit below—it’s got tools from our updated book, patent search tips, and guidance on how to draft your patent.
Now, let’s talk prototypes.
Honestly, prototyping isn’t what we do day in and day out—we’re a patent law firm. But over the years, we’ve built a solid network of engineers, designers, and manufacturers across the country. So if you need hands-on help with your prototype, we can point you in the right direction.
That said, here’s what I’ve seen work again and again for first-time inventors:
3D printing.
Also called additive manufacturing, it’s hands down one of the fastest and most affordable ways to get a working model of your idea. You don’t need fancy metal parts or a full production setup. Just something you can hold, test, and tweak.
Think of your first prototype as a rough draft.
It probably won’t be pretty—it might be all plastic or resin—but that’s okay. You’re not aiming for the final version. You’re trying to figure out: Does this thing actually work the way I think it should?
Once you’ve got something you can touch and test, the momentum builds. You’ll start spotting little things to improve. Maybe a part isn’t needed after all. Or maybe there’s a smarter way to design it. These insights? They’re gold—and they help shape a better patent.
That’s where we come in.
We can take your idea, along with what you’ve learned from prototyping, and make sure it’s clearly protected. During the patent-pending phase (which can last up to a year), we can add detail, refine the claims, and lock down what really matters about your invention.
Bottom line:
Don’t wait for a perfect version. Build a rough one. Learn from it. And protect what matters.
If you’d like help connecting with a prototyping expert near you, just reach out. We’ll match you with someone solid in your area.
I’m JD Houvener with Bold Patents.
Go big. Go bold.
And good luck building that first version.