Anyone ever submit a tool idea to Lisle

[PistolWhip]

I have a few ideas for tool inventions that I wanted to submit to the Lisle inventors program, but I'm a little hesitant because I don't know anything about it other than what it says on the back of the packages. My wife came up with a great "woman" oriented invention a few years ago and we invested a ton of money into one of those "Inventec" BS companies that was supposed to help us patent it, market it and move forward with it, but they never did anything but take our money

What the heck does one do when they have an idea like this???

 

[tigmusky]

I too have read the package and, thouhgt about sending in a couple of ideas. now I've waited so long I can't remember my Ideas.


It would be neat to here from someone who has..

Daye

 

[tcianci]

I actually did submit an idea to them once. I guess I was the 2nd guy who came up with it though. IIRC they actually sent me supporting documentation to prove it. They seemed on the up and up (Hey, they're tool guys!) I would certainly trust them more than those invention companies on TV.

Just a general note to anyone who invents something... Before you do anything with the idea, document it and put the documentation in an envelope and mail it to yourself. The postmark will serve as an authentication date as long as you never open the envelope. Not sure if it will hold up in court but it's a start. Advice #2: If you think it is an original idea, go for it. I have invented so much stuff over the years that I deemed "too simple" to bother with trying to commercialize WRONG! For example..those little plastic templates that you see at HD and Lowes to help mount cabinet hardware... I made those from sheet metal over 25 years ago...before we even had a HD or Lowes. Guys said I should patent it, I said it was too simple...turns out I was too simple.

 

[Homoudont]

I doubt have any ideas nor wouldn't know where to start. But I do know at my alma mater there was a college course where the students had to come up with an idea and patent it for their class project. I'm sure someone has written a book on how to get your Idea's patented. Your best bet is if you have an idea that you think is worth something, do the research, read a book, then go file a patent with the US government

I had a science teacher in junior high who claimed to have a patent to a version of a rotary engine. He claimed the big auto manufactures kept trying to buy his patent but he refused unless he got a % of the sales from said vehicle. I don't know if he ever did sell it, but from the sounds of his home, he was teaching for the pure joy not the money.

 

[OccupantRJ]

A patent is only as good as your ability to defend it.

 

[Kev442]

Going it alone can take thousands just to have the patent attorney check to see if it's been done. Going with Lisle seems like a viable alternative. Ariens just introduced the salter attachment for their snow throws, invented by 2 Iowa HS kids for the state competition. Simple idea, but it was not just an idea, but well thought out in terms of parts, manufacture and especially cost.

 

[mulepackin]

I actually did submit an idea to them once. I guess I was the 2nd guy who came up with it though. IIRC they actually sent me supporting documentation to prove it. They seemed on the up and up (Hey, they're tool guys!) I would certainly trust them more than those invention companies on TV.

Just a general note to anyone who invents something... Before you do anything with the idea, document it and put the documentation in an envelope and mail it to yourself. The postmark will serve as an authentication date as long as you never open the envelope. Not sure if it will hold up in court but it's a start. Advice #2: If you think it is an original idea, go for it. I have invented so much stuff over the years that I deemed "too simple" to bother with trying to commercialize WRONG! For example..those little plastic templates that you see at HD and Lowes to help mount cabinet hardware... I made those from sheet metal over 25 years ago...before we even had a HD or Lowes. Guys said I should patent it, I said it was too simple...turns out I was too simple.

I have done the same thing with Lexan. When I saw them in the catalogs and stores, I just kick myself.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I never send an idea to them, but I have a friend who claims to have sent several ideas to them and they are a straight up company to deal with. This guy makes allot of custom tools for his company, so I believe him.

Chris

 

[tigmusky]

A patent is only as good as your ability to defend it.

I'am just a hillbilly but, that's word of wisdom! It's like... it's not what you know... It's who you know.

Daye

 

[PistolWhip]

All good info guys. I have a few ideas that may or may not have been done before, but I know I've never seen them. Like I said, my wife came up with a great idea that we employed Invent-Tec to assist us with and all they did was take our money. Nothing but a big fat rip-off and who knows what they did with her idea because we just don't have the ability or money to follow up with it at this point. I'm not a very trusting person in the first place and I usually never send money to anyone without getting something in return right away, but my wife was just so enthused by this idea I couldn't tell her no. Live and learn I guess...

 

[tyrell2004]

NoLo press has a great website and a great books for reading on patenting something your self. Gives some safeguards to use even if you are sending ideas to a company for a possible licensing agreement. There are some things you should do, forms that you should require Lisle to sign and some that they would require you to sign before submitting an idea, (if they are legit about it) protects both parties.
3m's website has some doc's they require you to sign before submitting ideas that would be good to review. I looked for inventor clubs and forums in my area but did not find anything, local to attend in person, but there may be some in your area. They too had rules that would not allow anyone to discuss an idea at their meetings until the inventor had some basic protection in place so as to protect everybody. Anyone that wants to discuss your idea without insisting that you have some legal protection in place for your idea, before you meet or talk, I would probably suspect.
I have the same bad feeling about the TV inventor guys i have contacted all wanted $ first.
And of course I have ideas for better mouse traps as well.

http://www.nolo.com/products/patent-it-yourself-PAT.html http://www.nolo.com/products/profit-from-your-idea-LICE.html


Stick with the NOLO pages as they now have some ad links for inventor/patent attorneys strewn about their info pages.

Jut checked out Lisle Inventor's pages look good at the beginning but I would compare the agreement they send with some of the stuff recommended on Nolos books and other patent books.

 

[Tman]

Klein told a pal of mine that teaches electritions that they get most of their tool ideas from small inventors. They are always out there looking for more. I have helped bring products to market, a lot of work. If I could hand off an idea for a payment or licensing agreement I sure would.

 

[galwaytt]

A patent is only as good as your ability to defend it.

or, modified, A patent is only as good as your pockets are deep, to defend it.......

 

[12valve]

A buddy of mine submitted a tool idea to a company called Davison. He lost a lot of money and did not get anything in return. stay away from them.