# Presentation: 846991

## Inventing 101:  Tools of the Trade

- Joyce Ward,  Director of Program Support and Intellectual Property
- National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation
- www.invent.org

## “Necessity is the mother of invention, 
it is true—
but it’s father is creativity, 
and knowledge is the midwife.”  

--Jonathan Schattke

***it is true—***
***but it’s father is creativity, ***
***and knowledge is the midwife.”  ***
- --Jonathan Schattke

## National Inventors Hall of Fame® Foundation

## National Inventors Hall of Fame® Foundation

**“****Inspiring Invention Campaign”**  a National Ad Council campaign
- joint effort of the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation and the United States Patent and Trademark Office
-  **www.inventnow.org**

## National Inventors Hall of Fame® Foundation

**Deadline to  submit applications is **
**May 16, 2008**
**www.invent.org/collegiate**

## Characteristics of Successful Inventors

**Enthusiasm**
**Willingness to take risks**
**Not afraid of failure ---see stepping stones **
**not stumbling blocks**

**Notes:**
Not an all inclusive list, but things that stand out most to me.  Drive, Passion and Vision.  The fact that you are here attending this type of conference is a step in the right direction.  Inventive Spirit is important but you also need the Frontier Spirit.

## Surviving and Thriving on the Frontier

**In order to thrive on the frontier there were certain things you needed: **
**Knowledge of Your Environment**
**A Good Set of Tools (and Knowledge of  How and When to Use Them)**
**The Location of Your Resources**
**An Awareness of Your Strengths (and Shortcomings)**
**An Appreciation for the Journey**

## Know Your Environment

**Advance Knowledge Gives You the Opportunity to Prepare**
**knowledge of other products**
**knowledge of the market place**

**Notes:**
Why is it important to prepare?
Search to see what else is out there, has it been invented is your product similar how does it differ, all very important, Don’t want to waste time, energy, money, patent process can be very expensive

## 	A product infringes regardless of your knowledge of the existence of a patent

**Notes:**
Search, search, search!

## Utilize All the Tools at Your Disposal

- 	**A sledge hammer may work to drive in a nail but it may put a hole in the wall in the process. intellectual property protection, patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing agreements are all tools that can help take you from the garage to the assembly line to the bank.  Know what your tools are what each does and which is the best to use in order **
**to get the job done.**

## Good Set of Tools

**Patent Protection is extremely important but is it what you really need?**

**Notes:**
various forms of ip protection, valuable tools to get you out of the garage and onto the assembly line

## Patents

**A patent gives you the right to exclude others it does not give you the right to practice the invention you have claimed.**

## Tools continued

**Sometimes one tool will do the job but most of the time you need a combination to build an effective structure.**
**Patents**
**Trade Secrets**
**Copyrights**
**Trademarks (Branding)**
**Licensing Agreements**

## Wyoming’s Most Prolific Inventor

**John D. Pedersen was a gun maker **
**for Remington Arms.  Between 1909 and 1944, he received approximately 69 patents.**
**His most famous invention, **
**the “Pedersen Device” was never patented.**

**Notes:**
Temporarily turned the standard bolt rifle into a semi-automatic weapon firing pistol cartridges during World War I, used by the Doughboys. This was a top secret invention to temporarily turn the standard bolt action rifle into a semi-automatic weapon firing pistol cartridges. This would allow the infantrymen to fire rapidly during advances or trench clearing. 

## Utilize All the Tools at Your Disposal

**Remember the sledge hammer example.**
**Sometimes one tool will do the job but most of the time you need a combination **
**to build an effective structure.**
**Patents**
**Trade Secrets**
**Copyrights**
**Trademarks (Branding)**
**Licensing Agreements**

## Know Where to Find Resources

**Inventor Conferences**
**United States Patent and Trademark Office**
**Independent Inventor Associations**
**Small Business Administration**
**Blogs (web logs)**

## Small Business Administration (SBA)

**www.sba.gov**
**Small Business Training Network(SBTN)**
**Free on-line courses on a variety of topics relevant to start-ups and existing businesses**
- _[www.sba.gov/services/training](http://www.sba.gov/services/training)_

**Notes:**
Invaluable resource, can find a wealth of information on business planning, local resources, services.  The main one that I want to highlight are the free on-line tutorials.

## Recognize Your Strengths

**Work to your strengths**
**If you’re not good at something find someone who is**

## Appreciate the Journey

**Learn from each experience along the way**
**Have fun **

## Give Success Time	

**World of instant coffee, microwaves, but never be afraid to sit awhile and think**
**Beware of any company or organization that promises to give you immediate success.  The marketplace is unpredictable and there are a number of factors that may impact the success of your product.**

## Anything’s possible.  Keep Thinking.