You Invent It...We Protect It

This week's wacky patent was for an animal shaped building. What market was there for this invention?

Our first wacky patent is a bi-digital o-ring test for imaging and diagnosis of internal organs of a patient, patent number 5,188,107 on 2/23/1993.
Our second wacky patent is patent number 1,181,784, issued 05/02/1916 for a hovering flight aeroplane system.

The wacky patents of the week are a man-catching tank and an arrow extractor device.

John Pemberton’s Weird, Wild and Wacky Patents

Do you need to kick your own behind, have someone pat your baby to sleep for you or need a partner for the high 5? John has the solution to these dilemma’s with his weird, wild and wacky patents of the week.

John's finds for the week.

Steve’s weird patent this week involves a mechanism for the smoking of tobacco or “medicinal herbs.” You can’t get a patent on an illegal item so Steve questions how this was allowed. Steve’s 2nd patent of the week brings back fond memories for him. This patent was the last one he allowed as a patent examiner several years ago.

Hear answers to inventing questions from around the country such as “Where can I get an entry form for the New Product Hot Spot?” and “Where is this year’s ERA convention and what are the dates?”
Guest Sheridan Malphurs of NewProductHotSpot.org
http://www.newproducthotspot.org

If you would like to know “At what point in the inventing process should an inventor make a prototype?” or “If I hire someone to make my prototype and the prototyper suggests improvements, are the improvements mine?” then listen as Intellectual Property Attorney Steven Leavitt, Host Jillian Freed and guest prototyper Guy Marsden answer these questions and more.
Guest: Guy Marsden, Electronic Prototyper
http://www.arttec.net

Listen to questions from inventors around the country such as “Can you give me some advice about how to be selected to be a contestant on the American Inventor Show?” and ”Have any of the contestants from the American Inventor Show seen any financial success from their ideas other than the winner?”
Our guest is Doug Hall, past judge American Inventor
http://www.eurekaranch.com

Inquisitive listeners from around the country emailed questions to Cy such as “What was your First Invention?” and “What was the invention you created to repel school yard bullies?”
http://www.sneakyuses.com

Listen as our panel answers inventors’ questions such as:
“What advice can you give to the new independent inventor trying to get into the mass market?” and “I have heard that Office Depot has some diversity programs for potential inventors and particularly reaches out to women inventors and women owned businesses. Is there any truth to this?”

Guest: Julia Rhodes, Owner and Founder of Kleenslate
http://www.kleenslate.com

Listen as our panel answers listeners’ questions from around the country such as “If my idea is just for fun and doesn’t really have any purpose other than entertainment is it still patentable?” and “I want to submit my invention to the Invention Showcase so what should I do to make sure it is protected?”
Guest Ted Van Cleave, artist and author, www.totallyabsurd.com
http://www.totallyabsurd.com

Listen as inventors from around the country have their pressing questions answered such as “What is the biggest mistake that you see inventors make?” and “What types of changes are taking place in the invention world?”

Guests Dave Cormier and Karyl Lynch, New Product Scouts.
http://www.pelhamwest.com

Listen as Jillian Freed, Intellectual Property Attorney Steven Leavitt and guest John Schulte, President of the National Mail Order Association answer questions from all over the county such as “If there is one most important thing to keep in mind when trying to sell your product to a catalog, what would it be?” and “I hear of inventor related scams all the time. Are there any current scams involving catalogs that you have heard of?”
Guest is John Schulte, President of the National Mail Order Association
http://www.nmoa.org

Hear questions from about the country such as “I am considering starting my own business to market my invention. Do I need a board of directors?” and “Funds are really limited for me. I could save a lot of money if I wrote my own patent application. What is the worst that can happen?”

Guest: Tammie Aaron-Barrada, Business Consultant
http://www.pottiestickers.com

Hear answers to questions such as “Is having my own web page really cost effective?” and “How can I determine if I should have a web page on an existing site or go all the way and have my own web site created?”
Guest Paul Niemann, founder of MarketLaunchers
http://www.marketlaunchers. com

Listen as our expert panel answers emailed questions from curious listeners such as “As a new inventor, what help and resources can I expect to find in Inventors Digest?” and “If I see an ad in Inventors Digest for an invention related company, can I be sure that they are legitimate?”

Guest Mike Drummond, Editor in Chief Inventors Digest
http://www.inventorsdigest.com

Listen to inventors’ questions from around the country such as “I have an invention but I’m only 16 years old. Is there an age requirement for getting a patent?” and “I invented something that I have been using for a few years now. Is it too late to get a patent on it?”
Guest Carolin Best. Inventor of the Pet Peek
http://www.petpeek.info/

Inventors around the country get answers to their inventing questions such as “Does a simple idea have a good chance of being successful and it is patentable?” and “What are maintenance fees and what other costs are involved in the filing of a patent?”

Guest: Matt Yubas, The Product Coach
http://www.productcoach.com

Listeners from around the country email questions of interest such as “What does the name Ocean Tomo mean?” and “Do I have to have a granted patent to participate in an auction?”

Guest: Andy Ramer, Managing Director of the Corporate Finance OCEAN TOMO AUCTIONS
http://www.oceantomo.com

Hear answers to questions such as “Can anyone give me some information on test marketing?” and “What does a marketability opinion cost?”
Guest Bonnie Griffin Kaake, President/CEO of Innovative Consulting Group
http://www.biz-consult.com

Hear the answers to thought-provoking questions from all over the country such as “What are the common roadblocks inventors and entrepreneurs face when starting up their businesses?” and “Is there a most important thing to know about marketing and if so what is it?”
Guest: William McHenry, owner Inventor Sales and Marketing
http://www.inventorsales.com

Listeners from around the country pose questions such as “I watch infomercials and think one would be perfect for selling my invention. What should my first step be?” and “I have learned the hard way that I am not the best business person. I think I would be better off licensing my invention. Any tips for going about it?”
http://www.productstrategies.com

Hear answers to questions such as “Have there been any products that became successful because of the National Hardware Show and if so what were they?” and “Does my product have to be patent pending to have an exhibit at the National Hardware Show?”
Guest: Rob Cappiello, Vice President of NationalHardwareShow.com
http://www.nationalhardwareshow.com

Guest: Susan Casey
Inventors around the county want to know “How can I find out if my idea is a new idea or just new to me” and “If you have an invention, is its name important and if so, how you go about naming it appropriately?”
http://www.susancaseybooks.com

Guest: Mary Couzin, Title Executive Director Chicago Toy and Game Fair

Listen to questions from curious inventors from around the country such as “In what ways are games good for the brain?” and “Any suggestions on how to evaluate a game for its educational value?”
http://www.chitag.com

Inventors in need of guidance from around the country email questions such as “I suffer from lack of time, money and technical skills. Can Onlybusiness.com help me” and “Can OnlyBusiness help me with networking?”
Guest is Mark Friedman, Founder and CEO of OnlyBusiness.com

Inventors have many questions for our panel including “Can I get some advice on getting started with an invention” and “How can I find a mentor?”
Guest is Brian Fried, owner of Think Up Designs.

Hear our panel answer questions from around the country such as “How can I get my product on a home shopping show like QVC?” and “What advice would you give to someone who doesn’t know how to take their idea to market?”
Guest is Joe McDonnell, CEO of For Life Products
http://www.forlifeproducts.com

Inventors request answers to tough questions such as “If I have a new product idea, what is the first step in developing it?” and “How can I find out if my product has already been developed?”

GUEST: Alex McKay, Founder and President of ARMA Design

Inventors email pressing questions such as “Should I consider my invention a trade secret or get a patent on it?” and “How can inventors raise capital?
Guest: Mike Stathis, Managing Principal of Apex Venture Advisors
http://www.apexva.com

Listen as inventors from around the country get answers to their most urgent questions such as “I was thinking of getting a design patent on my idea but have been told that others can change something about my idea and get around my patent. Is this true?” and “If I improve a product, does the inventor own part of my new invention?”

Guest: Denise Bein, CEO and Co-Inventor of QuickSeals.
http://www.NeeseProducts.com