Matco Made by Idea promo thoughts

[gagreen]

I've been tinkering with a tool idea, and have gone into the process of attempting to make a working prototype in my spare time. I'm not versed in patents other than the price of getting one and I'm not sure I want to risk spending the time, resources, and money into it. I am also not sure if I'm to keen on keeping the idea to myself. So you see my conundrum.

I have been tossing around the idea of doing a submission to matco via matco's made-by-idea. I'm not sure though. I trust matco's tools but do i dare trust their corporation by sending in an idea not protected by a patent? Any thoughts?

 

[LEVE]

If you have to ask, you don't trust them. Keep the idea to yourself till you do trust their company.

 

[MattPersman]

Snap on takes tool ideas too not sure the process but I know they do

 

[gagreen]

snap on offers 3,000 + a manufactured version of the tool for unpatented ideas that they use. They are vague online of rules or other legal info on the transaction. I may sit on it for a while and get a working prototype and decide whether to follow up with a costly patent or just cut it loose and let the big boys decide if they want it.

 

[bobcatdan]

Lisle also has a tool submission program. I would talk to a pat lawyer. It is most likely is quick cash up front with no further income vs years of trying to get something off the ground to if your lucky turn a profit.

 

[gagreen]

Lisle also has a tool submission program. I would talk to a pat lawyer. It is most likely is quick cash up front with no further income vs years of trying to get something off the ground to if your lucky turn a profit.

Yeah I have family who have multiple patents on med equip and talking to them about the process it seems the risky route financially. Whereas these one time payout set ups (If they put it into production) puts the idea directly in front of the manufacturer eliminating risk, cost, and the investment of time to further develop a product. Silly thing to fret about I didn't reinvent the wheel but rather saved knuckle skin and some time, but production worthy....

 

[firebox40dash5]

These days, I'd take the quick cash option unless you've got a life-alteringly incredible product. You can spend thousands patenting your idea, more getting it produced, spend your sweat and blood finding distributors... and then a month later there's a factory in China pumping them out for $0.12 each and selling them on ebay or a shady website, and there's not much of anything you can do about it. Let the big guys worry about that ****, they've got a legal team of their own to handle whatever comes their way.

 

[woody 73]

As I get older my memory tends to fade a little bit, but somewhere in the back of my brain I remember reading an article (maybe some GJ member can find it), in that someone invented a tool and he took it to the Lisle company who in turn made it into a tool; but the story does not end there:

It would seem they took the profit (Lisle) and somehow that person who thought of the tool idea got the shaft so to speak.

I guess it is a sad story kind of like the guy that invented the intermittent windshield arm in his garage and he took it to (I think Ford) and boy did he get screwed, it took years for him to win that one.

Go slow and get some legal help up front before you talk to anyone.

 

[nit2wn]

I've heard tales of this going two ways from two different employers. A guy worked for the 1st employer in a wire drawing shop. Well he figured out how to literally double production out of each machine with just a few modifications. The company gives him a pat on the back and $1000 for his troubles, calls the machine manufacturer and sells them the idea for a few million literally. My current employer had a guy develop a 45 degree angle drill to install doors and showed the shop manager. The company liked the idea and helped him get a patent on the design and line up a manufacturer so they could start using it in the shop. Personally, get it covered before you breathe a word of it to anyone. The tool guy no longer works for us and took an early retirement to spend his new small fortune.

 

[mayday0017]

I believe you can do some very simple things to protect yourself.... google is your friend

 

[Roots]

Those programs are simply insane IMO. Usually in the submission process you waive all rights. At best, your tool will be produced and you'll be compensated with a free tool and some bar money.

If you just want the prestige of seeing your idea brought to fruition, it might be worth it.

 

[Midman914]

I know a guy that developed a tool, got a patent on it, then went to SO who did not want to buy it. So the took the idea and produced it off shore. Leaving him high and dry.