{"id":4302,"date":"2022-04-04T08:10:50","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T08:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prototecnica.es\/?p=4302"},"modified":"2024-11-27T22:48:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T22:48:00","slug":"how-to-patent-an-idea-prototype","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/letsprototype.com\/en\/blog\/2022\/04\/04\/how-to-patent-an-idea-prototype\/","title":{"rendered":"Steps to know if my idea is patented."},"content":{"rendered":"
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How can I know if I can patent my idea without spending any money? Lean Prototyping. <\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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An inventor mistakenly believes that the key to his invention's success is for nothing to exist that is the same as or similar to his idea. The existence of prior art similar to your product or prototype does not mean that you're condemned to failure. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Rather, the existence of prior art related to your CONCEPT (speaking in Lean Prototyping jargon) validates that your solution makes sense in the market.<\/p>

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\n\t\t\t\t\tHOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PATENT AN IDEA?<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tONLINE CALCULATOR<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/p>

Let's go to Step N\u00ba 2 of Lean Prototyping \u2013 Prior art and technical feasibility.<\/p>

Remember that we arrived at this point after a process of \"trial and error,\" in which we assess the real needs of our clients and of validating whether it involves a problem that is not resolved or, at least, not in a way that we deem the most efficient.\u00a0<\/p>

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In Step N\u00ba 1 of Lean Prototyping, we defined a very basic product concept, with working requirements for the prototype that, in some way, make it very clear to us in which area we have room for improvement. Continuing with the example of Cuban cigars and their conservation tools, we define what the current state of the art is; i.e., what exists thus far to solve the problem. From there, we define the list of basic requirements for our future prototype.<\/p>

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We want to bring your ideas to life<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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CATALOG OF
PROTOTYPES<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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You can now access over 30 examples of prototypes designed and manufactured in our lab<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrototype Examples<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In Step N\u00ba 2, we will begin with a thorough search of patent registrations or legal protections that may somehow condition the development of our invention. To conduct this search, we can take two paths:<\/p>

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Path N\u00ba 1 \u2013 Hire a professional patent and trademark agent to conduct a search and present us with the current records that may affect us.\u00a0<\/p>

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Path N\u00ba 2 \u2013 Investing time and effort, carry out ourselves the search for any prior art that could condition the development of our invention.\u00a0<\/p>

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El proceso de b\u00fasqueda de antecedentes es muy laborioso, lo que llamamos en Espa\u00f1a, un trabajo de Chinos\u00a0\uf04a<\/span>\u00a0Pero, seg\u00fan nuestra experiencia en Protot\u00e9cnica, nadie buscar\u00e1 tanto como el propio inventor.\u00a0<\/p>

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Going a little more in depth, we trust that it makes a lot of sense for the inventor himself, taking as a reference the working requirements list that defines his concept (Step N\u00ba 1 of the Lean Prototyping method), to do a preliminary search, even if he later entrusts an additional search to professionals, for greater peace of mind.<\/p>

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Actualmente la informaci\u00f3n es muy accesible, tendr\u00e1s acceso a los mismos medios que un agente profesional. En Let’s Prototype<\/strong> , cuando acompa\u00f1amos al inventor en este proceso, desplegamos la b\u00fasqueda a trav\u00e9s de tres m\u00e9todos:<\/p>

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\n\t\t\t\t\tHow much does the Prototype cost?<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOnline Calculator<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/p>

Method A - Semantic Study. You must define the most relevant keywords or phrases that define your invention. We recommend you define them in both Spanish and English. Once you have this list of words, combinations of words, and phrases, you can conduct searches in Google, Google Patents and the official search engines of the Patent and Trademark Office\u2019s online portals.\u00a0<\/p>

Continuing with our example of cigars and their conservation tools, we can state that inputting the term \"cigar humidors\" in Google Patents gets 269 hits. The hard work is opening each link and analyzing what is being claimed in each utility model or patent application.\u00a0<\/p>

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En Let’s Prototype<\/strong>, abrimos una tabla en Excel, vamos anotando en diferentes columnas: propietario de la patente, n\u00famero de patente, oficina donde se solicit\u00f3, pa\u00edses donde est\u00e1 protegida, fecha de vencimiento de la patente, reivindicaciones de innovaci\u00f3n (la clave de la patente) entre otros datos de inter\u00e9s. Este cuadro ser\u00e1 fundamental para marcar el rumbo de tu invento.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Method B - International Patent Classification (searches using CPC codes). This is a coding system that allows us to place our invention in a specific area of innovation. It seems like a daunting task, but it really is quite simple. Knowing the working requirements of your concept and the area where innovation is being made, we will be able to identify the code(s) that best fit our invention. Below is a link where you can find these codes for Spain: Here<\/a><\/p>

Una vez que tienes los c\u00f3digos, podr\u00e1s buscar con el mismo en las propias p\u00e1ginas digitales de la Oficina de Patentes, adem\u00e1s de poder introducirlos tambi\u00e9n en Google Patents. En Let’s Prototype, hacemos la b\u00fasqueda en ambos sitios.<\/p>

Whereas there are common sites for comparing inventions and being very rigorous in searches, we recommend you include whatever patents you identify in the same Excel file in which you entered the results found using Method A.<\/p>

Method C - Headline Study (following the trail based on competitor identification)<\/p>

As if that were not enough \u263a, as we already have a clear concept from Step N\u00ba 1 of Lean Prototyping, with its list of working requirements for the prototype, it will be very easy to identify the main manufacturers of solutions that affect our market, competitors, possible substitute products, etc. Thus, we can search patent office webpages as well as Google Patents by entering their names. This way, we can follow the trail and identify if they have any invention similar to ours; we can even determine what their next steps will be in the market and the innovation trends in the sector where we want to innovate.<\/p>

Yes, it is true that it is a very, very painstaking task, but it provides a wealth of very detailed information for subsequent steps. If you want to do it with this level of detail, we will be happy to support you and lend you a hand. Just contact us or schedule your appointment: https:\/\/calendly.com\/erick-remedios-letsprototype\/llamada-inicial<\/a><\/p>

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You must already be wondering about the second part of this step: Can my invention be manufactured? In this regard, I can assure you that out of all the inventors with whom we work at Protot\u00e9cnica every year, 95% receive an answer about the technical feasibility of their concept in less than 24 hours. This should not be your main concern.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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At this point, the good news is that you already have enough information and training to embark on the working prototype design and manufacturing stage. With a guaranteed success rate that\u2019s much higher than the 80% rate posted by inventors who start this journey lacking sufficient information. So, all the time you're devoting to the Lean Prototyping study substantially reduces the risk faced by most inventors.<\/p>

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Does it pay off for you?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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With these first two Lean Prototyping steps, we should be able to conclude the following:<\/span><\/p>