Hardcore Inventing: Invent, Protect, Promote, and Profit from Your Ideas

by Robert Yonover, Ellie Crowe

Overview

You’ve come up with a great solution to a persistent problem—an invention that will help thousands of people. But what do you have to do to turn it into a reality? Robert Yonover uses his experiences from the world of inventing and promotion to take you through the invention process step-by-step. Learn how to:

Find the problem you can solve
Build a show prototype
Create an attention-grabbing and memorable name
Find investors
Safeguard your intellectual property
Navigate critical crossroads
License and market your invention

From your initial idea through a captivating proposal, Hardcore Inventing is an easy-to-use, informational, and inspirational guide on how to turn your idea into a success.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629149783
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	10/21/2014
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Robert Yonover has a PhD from the University of Hawaii in geochemistry and volcanology. He is the inventor of the RescueStreamer, as well as other technological devices used in search and rescue. He lives in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Ellie Crowe is the award-winning author of more than sixteen books, including Hawaii: A Pictorial Celebration, Surfer of the Century, and Exploring Lost Hawaii. She lives in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Dr. Robert Yonover is a geochemist/volcanologist and the inventor of a multitude of survival technologies awarded U.S. Military/DARPA funding and U.S. Patents. Dr. Yonover's media credits include appearances on CNN, PBS, Discovery Channel and Shark Tank. He is the co-author of Hardcore Inventing. Dr. Yonover faced twenty years of long-term challenges when his wife, Cindy, became paralyzed and he unexpectedly became a caregiver and the sole functional parent of two young children. He resides in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Ellie Crowe is the author of Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku, a multi-award-winning book, including the prestigious Once Upon a World Award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center/Museum of Tolerance. Ellie has also written many other award-winning books, including Hawaii, A Pictorial Celebration and Exploring Lost Hawaii. She has appeared on the Travel Channel and the History Channel. Crowe lives in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Table of Contents

Foreword Louis Zamperini vii

Introduction x

Section 1 Invent 3

Chapter 1 Success Story-The RescueStreamer Technology 5

Chapter 2 Identifying and Solving the Problem 12

K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid) 12

Use Your Inner Ape 13

Look to Nature for Solutions 13

Chapter 3 How Nature Inspired My Inventions 18

Chapter 4 Scour Your Brain 29

What's Going On Out There? Today's Hot Inventions 34

Chapter 5 Making Your Idea a Reality: Inventor's Logs, Prototypes, and Marketability Evaluations 47

Proof-of-Concept Prototypes 48

Evaluate Your Invention 49

Market Analysis vs. Marketability Evaluation 51

Chapter 6 Build a Show Prototype 54

Chapter 7 Name Your Invention 72

Chapter 8 Checklist-Is Your Idea Feasible, Marketable, and Financially Viable? 82

Section 2 Protect 85

Chapter 9 Safeguard Your Intellectual Property-Paranoia Can be Good 87

Trademarks, Domains, Copyrights, and Patents 87

Chapter 10 Step-by-Step Guide from Disclosure to Patent-Etch It in Stone 92

How to Do a Preliminary Patent Search 97

Regular Patent Application for a Utility Patent 99

Using a Patent Attorney 100

Chapter 11 Alternatives to Utility Patents 103

Provisional Patent Application 104

Alternative Way to Obtain a Patent 107

Weird and Wonderful Patents 115

Section 3 Promote 117

Chapter 12 Get Your Invention Out There 119

Carpet Bombing and Strategic Insertions-Use the Media to Promote and Market Your Invention 119

The Media Is Looking-Can They Find You? 120

Chapter 13 Find Investors: Targeted Strikes and Mobilizing the Troops 130

The Art of the Pitch, or How to Give Good Elevator Pitches 131

Trade Shows, Invention Competitions, and Science Fairs 143

Chapter 14 Protect Yourself from Fraudulent Invention-Promotion Companies 150

Section 4 Profit 155

Chapter 15 Licensing 157

Locating Licensees and Manufacturers 158

Presenting Your Project to Potential Licensees 160

How to Sell Your Invention-Let Them Hold It, Then Take It Away 162

Negotiate an Agreement 163

Chapter 16 Manufacturing 167

Chapter 17 Marketing 177

Chapter 18 The Home Entrepreneur-Bottom-Feeding 192

Chapter 19 Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors 200

How to Get the Attention of a Venture Capitalist 202

Angel Investors 205

Royalty Financing 209

Partnership Money 209

Chapter 20 Critical Crossroads 210

Appendixes 213

Appendix 1 Useful Web Resources 215

Appendix 2 Recommended Redding 229

Appendix 3 Sample Agreements and Letters 230

Acknowledgments 262

Selected Sources 265

Index 267

Advance Praise for Hardcore Inventing 275