Patent an idea. Basic concepts that you should know before making your invention.

Before thinking about patenting an idea or the legal protection of your invention, it is very important that you understand the knowledge transfer process, that is, the steps to follow from when you have an idea until it becomes a product and subsequently a profitable business. 

Before getting into the subject, we share 4 concepts that you must master before patenting an idea: 

Background studies: The background study of inventions is one of the most important processes when patent an idea. This is an analysis of the “innovation claims” that have been previously registered, both nationally and internationally. It is very important because by studying the background of an invention, we can identify the level of novelty that we believe we are bringing to the market as well as the innovation opportunities that we could develop in our future product. 

Innovation claims: The “innovation claims” are those different and innovative features that turn your product into an innovative solution. These demands for innovation, without a doubt, constitute the hard core or key elements of a patent or Utility Model . 

Conceptual prototypes: As conceptual prototype , we can understand any useful piece, medium or object to show potential clients our intention to innovate. The conceptual prototypes are useful to obtain information about the possible behavior of future clients or buyers of the patents, regarding our ideas.  

Functional prototypes: The functional prototypes s are very similar versions to the final products. Taking as reference the information resulting from the background studies of the inventions, as well as the information obtained from the conceptual prototypes , the functional prototype is manufactured. The functional prototypes allow the technical viability of the product to be validated, define new innovation claims, obtain references on the product industrialization processes and take the first steps towards selling the invention or the patent itself that can be registered. 

Let's take as reference the following example, based on real cases.

A couple of weeks ago, we received a group of inventors who were very happy to have obtained a Utility Model title, with which they considered protected a machine that intended to substantially change a very important process in the agricultural sector. The innovation claims listed in the Utility Model, as well as the report in general, told the product idea that the inventors considered novel. 

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Fortunately, for them and for us :), they decided to make their invention in our prototype manufacturing laboratory. The first meetings were hard and bittersweet. It took our engineering team very little time to achieve the same functionalities that were described in the Utility Model, but with more advanced and efficient technology. These solutions radically changed the concepts defined in the Utility Model, so there was a decision to make:

Get an innovative product that responds to the needs of the market efficiently, or manufacture a prototype that strictly complies with what was described in the Utility Model?

What would you do?

Surely an intermediate solution comes to mind. Modify the Utility Model. Unfortunately this is not possible, so the investment and time dedicated to patenting an idea before studying the background and innovation claims, as well as manufacturing the prototypes, have to be, yes or yes, antecedents of a patent or legal protection. . 

Fortunately, in the case of our clients, they had enough financing to begin the entire process. We studied the trends of innovation claims that made up similar patents, we tested different alternatives in the prototyping process and currently, the product is being industrialized to form part of the product portfolio of a renowned distributor in the agricultural sector. 

If you want to know more details about the concepts shared, or want to discuss with our inventor support team, all you have to do is book your first appointment HERE.