A special ensemble cast of inventor club presidents gathers this evening in a special edition of Got Invention Radio, presented by Inventors Digest. Inventors clubs offer one of the best ways to learn how to commercialize products, network with professionals and avoid pitfalls. Joining Host Brian Fried will be: Mark Reyland, Executive Director of [...]
Archive for March, 2011
Tonight on Got Invention Radio
Thursday, March 31st, 2011How Social Media Puts Brands at Risk
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
Facing Up to Facebook By Henry Stimpson Facebook’s community pages pose a challenge to companies trying to protect their brands and trademarks on the Web. Community and so-called fan pages let Facebook users share posts about a brand or company they like. They’re often set up by people outside the company. And they’re often popular. [...]
Why We Need an Inventing Curriculum
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
. Class in Session By Ivan Cacic Shortly after the “Eureka!” moment, the first thing many new inventors often think of doing is obtain a patent, make prototypes or crank up manufacturing. However, most will soon realize they lack the knowledge, skills, experience or money to do all this, particularly with inventions that require considerable [...]
Q-and-A with Swing-N-Slide
Monday, March 28th, 2011
A little while ago, we asked for your questions about the current Swing-N-Slide Live Product Search for residential playground innovations, which closes on April 11. Our counterpart over at Swing-N-Slide not only welcomed your questions, but he also recently welcomed twins! Without further ado, and we apologize for our delay, please find the below Q-and-A session with Swing-N-Slide, a Playcore company.
What made you decide to partner with Edison Nation?
Edison Nation provides access to an inventor community. We are aggressively seeking marketable concepts to integrate into future product designs.
Can the dimensions posted (108” length and 165” length & height combined) be round, oblong or abstract in shape?
Yes. All concepts should be mindful of the retail space available and shipping costs for the packaging of a new product.
Cooperative play is mentioned; does it mean you favor this type of play over individual play?
Both are important. Cooperative play does assume that more children can be pulled into the environment. In the marketing of concepts, cooperative play has significant value.
You mentioned the targeted consumer as “parents of small children.” When you say “small children,” how small do you mean? Two to five year olds? Five to 10 year olds?
From age two up to 10 years old.
You mentioned you’re interested in innovative building materials including improved plastics, metals or wood substitutes. Is Swing-N-Slide steering away from wood?
Not necessarily. We predominately use wood today. We are seeking advancements in costs, assembly, nesting/shipping, and material life that will put us ahead of the current
One of inventors mentioned he had a concept that was for children’s outdoor use, but not necessarily a playground-type innovation. Would you be willing to accept ideas slightly outside the search guidelines?
Yes. As long it promotes play.
One of our inventors noted that his idea is still very conceptual; are you willing to consider ideas that are in the very primary stages of ideation?
Yes. As long it meets the guidelines for negotiating a business arrangement for Swing N Slide to market.
Do you have ideas for those non-parent inventors looking for inspiration?
Obviously, all inventors were children who have played at some time. Look back to your childhood and think about what is missing in today’s playground landscape. A visit to a local park or recreational center where children play may spark ideas.
Lastly, a Google search and study of today’s play products may trigger ideas for innovation. I suspect that there are many inventor innovations from non-related industries that would add value to play sets and accessories.
Confessions of a Modern MacGyver
Monday, March 28th, 2011
. An Inventor’s Love Affair with Edison Nation By Eric Huber Editor’s note: We asked independent inventor Eric Huber to write a from-the-gut, honest assessment of what he thought about Edison Nation. Here’s what he had to say: I’m too old for Legos, Lincoln Logs, wood blocks and Erector sets, but I like building [...]
Patent Office Answers Your Questions
Friday, March 25th, 2011
Ask the Commish Q. My buddies and I are in a band and we’re thinking about naming ourselves The Rolling Moans and getting a trademark. My dad says we would run into “intellectual property issues. Can you even trademark band names? What about our name? A: While the USPTO prohibits its employees from [...]
Patent Office Debuts Innovation Commish
Thursday, March 24th, 2011
Remember when the U.S. government kept calling newly appointed people to newly created positions “czars”? As in “drug czar,” “education czar,” “environmental czar,” etc.? Thank goodness that seems to be over. But new appointments and creations of departments continues. To that end we give a tip of the hat to seasoned patent office official Richard Maulsby, [...]
Find an Inventor Group Near You
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
The United Inventors Association of America assembled this list of UIA-affiliated inventor groups. If you want your group listed, contact the UIA at www.uiausa.org. Alabama Invent Alabama Bruce Koppenhoefer 137 Mission Circle Montevallo, AL 35115 205-222-7585 bkoppy@hiwaay.net Arizona Inventors Association of Arizona, Inc. Tim Crawley, President PO Box 6436 Glendale, AZ 85302 (623) 680-5192 azinventors.org Arkansas [...]
How to Boost Your Odds for Success
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011
Stacking the Deck By Jack Lander When it comes to laying odds that a patent will earn more than its costs, the typical figure is 2%. This paltry percentage is rumored to have come from a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office survey of several years ago. I’ve been unable to find evidence of [...]
Win $20,000 – Touch of Genius Prize
Monday, March 21st, 2011
The National Braille Press is accepting applications for the 2011 Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation. If you are interested in applying or nominating another innovation, please read the submission requirements and download the application. Applications are due on September 1, 2011. The Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation The Touch of Genius Prize for [...]