I think I have an invention...

[EdieMcredie]

...Never seen it before, very very practical and I think it could work.

What do I do???

Tell me

Don't tell us !!!

patent office

Har har CD

haha.

I am sooo tempted but won't

Thankyou!

Dragons Den!

I don't have much money, is there anyway I can approach someone for free?

I could help you. Tel me your ideas.

Can't really, I'm skint!

It's doing my head in keep thinking about it!

You need to think of a company (preferably small rather than some greedy patent-grabbing multinational) who could manufacture a prototype for a small sum. Then you hawk it round possible retailers. But patent the idea first.

Go on, tell us - you know you want to

It's something that I cannot believe hasn't been done-for parents. That's all im saying!

So you could end up patenting a crap idea that no-one wants to produce?

Yes, but I don't know how much patenting costs - it could just be a nominal amount, and it might not be a crap idea. All the more reason why you need feedback from parents on, I dunno - something like a parenting forum ?

The guy who did the wind up radio has a company that assesses inventions. There are different levels of advice you can buy in to- but if they like the idea they take it on and you get a big cut.

Worldwide patents are very expensive and you need to able to defend them if broken or no point having them.

here trevor bayliss this is a really useful site.

This is the thing-I don't know where to start. Im so skint that can't really pay out some money unless I know it will work IYSWIM. It's a risk. I mean, I have told a couple of people and they think it is brilliant. I do too. Just can't afford to waste any money!

The basic trevor Bayliss service is £199. If it's a real goer they will offer to take it on for you.

First before speaking to anyone about it contact the patent office to do a search. Then if you decide to continue you will need to patent your product and you can either attempt to apply to banks, business angels or other companies for money and produce the product yourself or appraoch a company who maybe interested in investing or taking on your idea and you would then sell them the licence to produce your project. However, it is imperarive that you have a prototype made to show potential investors - without this it is very difficult to secure any funding. Good luck with it!

Cool-have sent off for the free pack

Thanks Jazz

it takes years to get a full patent. In that time you need to be working on getting your business up and running.

Market research is vital before you actually do anything, because if you really can't afford the outlay, then you need to be absolutely positive that this is going to make money so as to justify any loan you might take out to finance it.

You can only find out if there is a market, so in actual fact it's not a bad idea to say what the invention is, because you will get a fair range of opinions on here.

It does take ages for a patent but there are rules which mean just because patent is pending does not mean someone can come along and nick your idea. The only thing about patent is you have to have enough money to take those that contravene your patent to court - this is one of the reasons it is so difficult for inventors to make it as often larger companies just come along and steal your idea.

Is it a machine that does the washing up whilst wiping infantile snot and bums and plays football and Barbie for hours on end and makes you a cup of tea and tells you you're marvellous then does the hoovering and prints out tenners?

It's a product, not a business.

Will it really take that long?!

LGS-How did you guess??!!

Ill have one of them ones lippy