I have a small invention I've been thinking about patenting and marketing for years. It's a fence for cutting curves on a bandsaw. It actually works. We're talking long gradual curves, say like a 10 to 20 foot radius. I figured out the math for it also.

It got good reviews years ago in the newsletter for the Guild of American Luthiers. Luthier is a word I was never too big on -- French for "lute maker," it's used here for a maker of any stringed instruments, but guitars primarily.

There are on-line outfits that will help you with patenting for a "small" fee, of course. I'm thinking it can't be that hard.

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

My wife is on the patent comittee where she works. She says once you have released it into public use it's considered "prior art" hence cannot be patented.

__________________
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

Well, maybe you could make an improved, updated, upgraded version...
and patent THAT.

I dread all that bureaucratic stuff.
I applied for a Trademark in the year 2000.
They just contacted me a few days ago, for me to initiate another stage of the process... and pay $100.

__________________
'87 300SDL

dieselbenz

I was dreading the bureaucratic stuff myself. I think I'll just go ahead and try to sell 'em. Of course, I need to build a fancier model first. Jeez, I'd love to have checks coming in the mail for something I can build indoors that won't wear my aging bod out faster than it's going already.

I don't do framing anymore if I can help it. That's a young man's game.

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I have an industry specific patent which was granted me two years ago. It was an interesting experience. PM me if you have any questions

How long before it was actually issued? My wife has one patent going on three years already. Approved but not issued. Two more applied for.

__________________
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

Any idea how hard and fast this rule is? It would be really hard for anyone to track down the prior existance of this device, at least from my releasing it to the public. Maybe someone else has spread it around a little more, who knows. The Guild of American Luthiers is a fairly esoteric organization. Not too widely know.

I've done web searches for "curve cutting bandsaw fence" with no results. Likewise for the patent office search function.

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Man, I don't think you can circumvent that.

tNext time you're at GAL or Healdsburg or even GFA talk to Ruck or LoPrinzi or Tom Humphrey about patenting. They've done it.

__________________
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

What, are you a guit-box making dude? I mean, how would you know about Healdsburg otherwise. Oh yeah, I guess they have guitar festivals now. Years ago, they were known for the Luthier's Mercantile business and among makers only, just about.

I've been talking with Azimyth, and he thinks maybe I can get around the prior art thing. I never built one and sold it. I'm going to visit a patent lawyer.

I'm wondering how the patent office would ever find out, given the small arena I publicized it in. Perhaps if I played ignorant it might work, w/o lying that is, otherwise it could bite me in the ass.

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

The patent office would never know, nor care.

If another party, who knows of the tool, and has observed it in a public venue, makes a comment to the patent office, then you'll have trouble.

This is unlikely...........but..........you never know.

And, if some company decides to rip you off and produce the item, they could use the fact of prior art as a valid defense, if they could produce the evidence of it.