The Yale expositor., 1916-02-10
THE INVENTOR.

Statistics are misleading, but / may
say in passing that millions of patents
have been issued, and that thousands
Of new inventions are patented yearly.
The patent office will grant a patent
for new discovery or invention, ire
spective of its commercial or other
worth, the patent examiners basing
their decisions upon the newness OF
the thing patented entirely regardless
of its intrinsic value.
Inventions have been made by both
sexes. and by people of all ages, in
GLIDING the immature youth. Some or
them have brought fortunes; but the
majority of patents are worth prac-
tically nothing, and many good dis
covery or invention, through lack OF
development and exploitation, has not
contributed anything to its originator.
A successful invention is dependent
upon two conditions: First, the com
mercial or other value of the thing it.
self; secondly, proper development.
Comparatively few inventors or
scientific men have business ability,
and the majority do not understand
the marketing of the products of their
ingenuity. They can invent, but they
cannot exploit. They can discover,
but they cannot distribute.
While few great inventions have
been the result Of chance or accident,
the majority of profitable patents are
Inc
combined with unceasing research.
Mere brightness and ingenuity are not
sufficient. l am inclined to think that
the inventor comes by his talent nat
urally and that he cannot produce it.
If you are ingenious and original
and would invent. first train yourself
along the line of your proposed course.
Secondly, do not invent in a haphaz
ard manner. Study conditions by re-
search, ascertain what is wanted,
what can be used, what will be used il
properly presented. Then attempt to
meet this demand. When the idea is
born, search the patent records, for
the chances are that someone else has
forestalled you. BY quiet and more
or less secret inquiry attempt to dis
cover whether or not what you have is
marketable. Then consult a reputable
patent lawyer or solicitor. If you do
not know Of one. ask the judge OF the
court, or some high-class attorney at
law, to recommend one. Place your
self unreservedly in his hands, for no
reliable patent lawyer or solicitor has
ever been known to betray his clients.
After the patent is issued to you. get
into communication with concerns
manufacturing similar articles, or APP
pearing TO do So and either sell your
patent outright or arrange for a roy
atty. The chances are a thousand to
one that you cannot properly handle 1t
yourself.
Bear in mind one thing: the result
OF ingenuity is worthless unless it
can be used either commercially or for
the benefit of humanity. Financial
profit comes only to those who pro-
duce something which swill SELL
You may be perfectly convinced of
the value of your invention, but, un.
less you can make the public realize
its worth, you cannot hope to win
fame or fortune from it, First. be sure
that you have something which the
world needs, then make every effort to
show the world that you have some
thing very much worth its considera
ton, by placing it in the hands of men
you can trust. men who have the CAPT
tai and ability to develop it. Don't
try to do it yourself unless you have
both money and business acumen.