I think I have an invention...

[EdieMcredie]

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

What do I do???

Put me down for 3.

You really don't necessarily need a patent. I was looking into a business idea - won a competition and had a lot of official advice as the prize. The advice was pretty unanimous that as the market was small and we would never be able to afford to defend a patent infringement there was quite possibly no point getting one.

Can't you tell us?

but the manufacture and sale of the product will ultimately be your business, no?

I've invented loads of things that I thought the world didn't have, and had my fortune all planned .

You know those auto feeder things for cats? well I invented those! (or so I thought) except that about a week after I thought of the idea bil informed me that he'd just gone out and bought an auto feeder for his cats for when they went on holiday.

And then I came up with the idea of utilising rain water so as to save on water costs and help the environment. It would work a bit like a huge water but, but in a tank situated underneath the house/garden, with pipes from the roof for it to run into, and filtration to ensure bacteria was removed before use. That one never got off the ground really because of the huge cost that would have been involved. Last week I was talking to someone whose family live on some caribian island and she was saying "all their water is rain water, it collects in a tank under the house and then they pump it out" ah well win some lose some .

I've got an idea for a kind of towelling bag you can zip a muddy/wet/sandy dog into for in the car on the way home - anyone know if they already exist?

Yes, it's called 'The boot' and it comes free with your car

How can you not be impressed?!

do you mean like this?

loads of them around, and have been for years....

Thanks Heifer, I am far too lazy to do anything about it anyway - at least I can buy that one for myself now Back to the drawing board...

So you just wanted someone to google one for you then!

I know mine hasn't been done before-have googled lots of times.

It's very simple, practical and wouldn't cost much to make.