How to Have Your Invention Manufactured

The light bulb--one of the most famous inventions in human history

Manufacturing companies are always developing or looking for new inventions. Inventors who create new products often have limited funds to manufacture the invention, and they will not profit from an invention unless they can manufacture and distribute it to the public. An inventor can negotiate with companies in the manufacturing industry to achieve these goals. But he also needs to use safeguards to prevent the theft of his intellectual property.

Instructions

1. File a patent for the invention. Use a patent attorney first to determine if the invention is actually new and patentable. Getting a patent allows the inventor to maintain the exclusive right to manufacture an invention. The patent holder, however, can sell this exclusive right to a manufacturing company in return for a fee or ongoing royalty payments.

2. Use ThomasNet to find companies that manufacture products similar to your invention. Use the company search feature or product directory to find companies. Record the contact information for each company that might have an interest in manufacturing your invention. You can also select a patent broker or attorney who specializes in finding companies to manufacture inventions.

3. Create a prototype to show to the companies. A prototype is a model of the invention. A prototype should be a working model of the final product, but the cost of building a prototype may limit the inventor to a crude prototype that has limited features of the invention. Use the prototype to display the usefulness of the invention and compile evidence about the cost of production. Select a prototype company if you do not have the ability to create a prototype on your own.

4. Create a written presentation to go along with the prototype. The presentation should include a cover sheet with a summary of the invention and details on the target market. Explain what problem this invention solves and why it is better than anything else currently on the market. Include the estimated cost of production and distribution. Add a pricing structure to show companies the profit potential. Provide contact details in case the company wants to negotiate or have further discussions.

5. Use the contact information for the companies to send the written presentation. Make a follow-up phone call a few days later to confirm receipt of the presentation. Arrange a meeting with any companies that contact you or agree to a meeting on the follow-up phone call. Take any prototype for the face-to-face meeting. Negotiate a fee or royalty payments for each company that expresses an interest in manufacturing the invention.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider how many units a company offers to manufacture and your profit per unit. A company may offer higher royalty payments but make no guarantee about the number of units to be produced.

• Avoid patent brokers or invention submission companies that charge upfront for submission services. Choose a company that accepts a commission only upon successful negotiation for the manufacture of the invention.

References

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Patents
• LegalZoom: Selling Your Patent: What You Need to Know
• ThomasNet: Company and Manufacturer Searchable Database

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• General Patent Corp.: Patent Brokerage Services
• Invention City: Prototypes and Prototyping
• Ask The Inventors: Create a Compelling Presentation For Your Invention