Building A Better "mousetrap"

[Ratherbfishing]

I have what I believe is an excellent idea for a new crankbait design however I have neither the financial resources, or the the design or materials expertise to carry it off.  Which approach do you all think would be better-trying to sell the idea to a company or patenting it myself and then trying to sell the patent? Obviously the whole thing would rely, in part, on the merit of my idea but just wondering what you all think?

[A-Jay]

Perhaps you could present your idea to the panel members on the reality television show Shark Tank ?

 

Congratulations on your idea and Good Luck.

 

A-Jay

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I have what I believe is an excellent idea for a new crankbait design however I have neither the financial resources, or the the design or materials expertise to carry it off.  Which approach do you all think would be better-trying to sell the idea to a company or patenting it myself and then trying to sell the patent? Obviously the whole thing would rely, in part, on the merit of my idea but just wondering what you all think?

 

You can patent an "idea"?

 

I know you are being vague for a reason but you're going to have a tough sell with whatever decision you make. No offense, but if you say you don't have the design or materials expertise to pull it off, I have a really hard time believing it would be a viable design. At least maybe have a rough, working example you can tinker with and then present it.

 

Good luck in whatever you do. Whether it's a success or your fall flat at least you can say you tried.

[Ratherbfishing]

You can patent an "idea"?

 

I know you are being vague for a reason but you're going to have a tough sell with whatever decision you make. No offense, but if you say you don't have the design or materials expertise to pull it off, I have a really hard time believing it would be a viable design. At least maybe have a rough, working example you can tinker with and then present it.

 

Good luck in whatever you do. Whether it's a success or your fall flat at least you can say you tried.

 

I was, indeed, being vague for a reason.  I have no meaningful knowledge of patent law and perhaps something does indeed have to be built to be patented.  I've no dispute there.

 

My design-while simple enough in concept-requiring very few parts (with only one moving part)- does require some degree of...finesse.  I do take exception, however, to the suggestion that lacking that degree of sophistication relegates my idea to the trash heap.  Certainly the pyramids could not have been built by one person alone.  I read that it takes a great deal of R & D to get a fishing lure from its *** to it's final assembled product.  But every creation has to begin somewhere and I think it would be a shame were it not to be pursued (especially if I can profit by it).  I just don't want to present my idea to some company, have them subsequently steal the idea, and then give me the "big stiffy."  This is, I suppose, an age old problem.

[Catt]

Send a PM to Steve Big-O Parks, Matt Lures, or some others who have made lures.

[Smokinal]

I would like to warn you here that you must be very careful in how you present your idea. I had an idea for a jighead with a certain style hook on it. I, too, did not have the resources to manufacture them myself so, after searching everywhere (literally hundreds of web sites and not finding this style made), I contacted a manufacturer (name will remain undisclosed) and they asked for my video and some info on it. To this date I still have not heard back from them. This was around 4 years ago, and after numerous attempts at contacting the rep I had been in contact with. Then, lo and behold, I see my idea in a package for sale.

[roadwarrior]

Send a PM to Steve Big-O Parks, Matt Lures, or some others who have made lures.

 

Bobby at MegaStrike is another suggestion.

http://www.megastrike.com/#!contact-us

 

 

 

[WRB]

Patents are expensive, the initial research for prior art, writing and drawings to define your ingenious new idea is only the tip of the iceberg; about $15K. Non disclosure agreements are not that expensive, but easy to break between individuals, they work for corporations with assets to loose.

Patents must have litigation to protect it, costly and only valid between member countries. Fishing lures are not a good product to patents IMO.

Whenever there is money involved you must protect yourself.

Good luck!

Tom

[Comfortably Numb]

And you would probably deal with a manufacturer in Asia. They steal everything, contract or not.

 

Hopefully Bobby will chime in with his knowledge.

[merc1997]

i might have some input on your situation since i have been through the entire process of patents and trademarks.  to begin with a patent, you have to decide if you have something to patent.  is it a function or just a design?  if it is a function, you will have to research to see if there has or is already protection on what you believe to be patentable.  trademark wise, what is there about the image that is unique?  as far as taking the idea to another manufacture, you need a signed legal document that states they will not produce or disclose, and that can be very "ify".  i have things all over the fishing industry that are mine and have never been paid for or recognized to be the originator.  patents are expensive, and you need to weigh the cost of that against being able to ever bring that idea to market.  if you do not have any idea how to manufacture your idea, you need to start learning how to do it, to be able to make a determination as to what that cost might be, and whether the finished product will arrive at a sellable price point.  i have a number of patents and trademarks so , i have a bit of knowledge of what i am talking about.  and several of those are to do with fishing products.

 

bo

 

bo 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I was, indeed, being vague for a reason.  I have no meaningful knowledge of patent law and perhaps something does indeed have to be built to be patented.  I've no dispute there.

 

My design-while simple enough in concept-requiring very few parts (with only one moving part)- does require some degree of...finesse.  I do take exception, however, to the suggestion that lacking that degree of sophistication relegates my idea to the trash heap.  Certainly the pyramids could not have been built by one person alone.  I read that it takes a great deal of R & D to get a fishing lure from its *** to it's final assembled product.  But every creation has to begin somewhere and I think it would be a shame were it not to be pursued (especially if I can profit by it).  I just don't want to present my idea to some company, have them subsequently steal the idea, and then give me the "big stiffy."  This is, I suppose, an age old problem.

 

LOL, man I never said trash your idea. I suggested you get better at making your idea a reality.

 

Then I wished you "good luck" as I still do....

[Bobby Uhrig]

Never wanted to get into the crank bait market -way too much competition and to make it inexpensively ya got to go to overseas markets -Im not going to do that

rattling chambers-balancing- great paint jobs- I caught more fish with old simple cranks that the high dollar ones- action is important-wide wobble -tight wobble-no wobble -cmon-its crazy

 

 

I have some great concepts for crankbaits but no plans to bring them to market-

[Bobby Uhrig]

Speed you are always trashing everyone- you should be ashamed of yourself -Never crush anyones Deram 

 

I HAVE A DERAM !!!

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Speed you are always trashing everyone- you should be ashamed of yourself 

 

LOL, please let these folks know that you are joking.

 

I don't trash anyone.

[Bobby Uhrig]

Nope

[Bobby Uhrig]

Speed "THE DREAM KILLER" Bead

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Nope

 

LOL, good enough.

[Bobby Uhrig]

Rather B --If you truly feel that you have a viable product-unique to others-don't let anything stop you-I have had so many people say I couldn't do it-It gave me more drive and ambition to do even better. I cant tell you how much I enjoy anglers calling me telling me that they caught their biggest fish-won a tournament-or had their kid catch their first or biggest fish using a Megastrike Product. Its the personal reward that fills the gaps in life.