Has anybody ever?

[07classic]

So my question is, has anybody ever came up with a new tool idea, or made some tool better, and sold it to one of the big tool companies? I have this idea for a attachment/ add-on for your tool box, the problem is its something most of you guys can build yourself, but it would **** to see the tool companies copy it and sell it as a opinion for tool boxes.

It is something I think if it was sold cheap (and it would not cost much to produce) would be something a lot of people would say OH S*%# that's something I could use.

Thanks guys for your input.

 

[TONE]

Shamwow!!!

 

[12valve]

My buddy submitted an idea to Davison. They are one of those companies that are supposed to help you get your idea to market and help you get patents. DO NOT EVER DO ANY BUSINESS WITH DAVISON. It started out that they would just work for a comission. They they told him it was a big project and would need him to pay a percentage of the developement costs for a prototype. They then fed him a line about selling the tool to a big name tool company, and he should expect 1 to 4 million. They hooked him. Along the way they asked for more money , document fees etc. They strung him along for over 3 years. They finaly sent the prototype to him. It was like they never had any intention of helping him. It was like asking them to build a power tool and getting a can opener. it was that far off base. He is a poor guy and currently out of work> they prey on people that have nothing but dreams. They knew he could not afford to hire a lawyer and sue them. I think they strung it out long enough for the document disclosure to go out of date, and steal his idea. Be careful

 

[Beater]

I have a friend who designs tools for Black & Decker/DeWalt. Different than a toolbox item like you have in mind, but I'll see if he has any input.

 

[A_Pmech]

the problem is its something most of you guys can build yourself

It can be a problem, or it can be a solution.

If we can build it, you can probably build it too.

 

[Poltax]

I worked for Makita Power Tools as a sales rep for the several years. We would occasionally purchase ideas from individuals or companies that designed products. One of the most well known is the "finder driver". This is the item that you put in the end of your drill and your bit is on the end of it, then you slide the sleeve over the bit and screw to help you drive the screw in straight. We had an exclusive for this item for a period of time. I think it was one or two years, the originator received royalties off the sales, then they sold it to all the other tool companies after the exclusivity was over.

If you have an idea, get it patented then market ot to the tool companies yourself or with someone you know that can do a sales presentation if you do not. Also make sure you have a well versed attorney involved that knows contracts and patents.

Your other option is to patent the idea or design, and any variations that you can think of. Then make and market it your self.

 

[MotoDave]

The only real way to keep your idea from being copied/ripped off is to get your idea patented, and even then you'll need deep pockets to pay lawyers to fight the copycats. I've heard the patent process typically costs $15-20k, so its not realistic for your average inventor without corporate backing.

As an engineer I've worked on a few side project for people, helping them bring ideas to reality, and its a lot of fun to do.

 

[chevelle67]

I agree with MotoDave. My wife files patents for her business and it is pretty costly.

 

[mad57]

My buddy invented the sand spike... its a screw in spike that holds ur beach umbrella silly stupid but he got it patened and currently shopped it out over seas to china factory, and now makes a good living off the profits... walmart,k mart ect picked him up. yes you will have to spend some money to make money but if its a great idea and no body else patened it youll do good, good luck.

 

[Freejack]

Having worked in a role for a large manufacturer where I regularly recieved product ideas from customers, the only real way to make sure you get a fair shake when submitting an idea is have it patented first. That protects both you and the company to which you are submitting the idea.

One of the problems for a large company that has done business for a long time is that for every idea or concept proposed from outside, there is a very good chance someone internal had put together something similar in years past and for what ever reason, the concept was not brought to the market. So if you submit an un-patented idea, expecting compensation, and the company already had a similar concept fleshed out, who really thought of it first?

On the other hand, if you submitted a patented idea, you have proof of ownership and even if said company had put together the concept in the past, if they did not patent it, then its yours.

I can recall several times working with inventors that came to use with patented ideas that turned into successful products. Conversely, I do not recall a case were we ended up utilizing a idea that was submitted to us un-patented.

All that said, many companies have a process for accepting ideas, for example, DeWalt has a specific process laid out on their website: http://www.dewalt.com/us/service/company/invention.asp

Jake