Golfer Reveals Quick Patent Tips for Medical Device Inventors

Send Email

One of the hottest areas for inventions is in the medical device field and as a Registered Patent Attorney experienced with patenting medical and dental products nationwide,  I have spoken to hundreds of doctors, dentists, nurses and even some patients interested in securing patents on their innovations.  Some of the best inventions (and most patentable) all share a tried and true formula for success.

This formula

  • Saves time
  • Lessens your initial investment
  • And maximizes the chances that your invention will be approved by the Patent Examiner assigned to your case.

Here’s a quick story, that although has NOTHING TO DO WITH MEDICAL OR DENTAL PATENTS, goes a long way to illustrate a simple formula uncovering patentable and profitable niches in the market.

Patent Lessons from a Golfergolf patent

I just finished reading a short article on South Carolina golfer and inventor Michael Owens (http://tinyurl.com/368xxma). Owens has a patent pending on a device that securely holds personal golf GPS devices and laser rangefinders in place on golf carts.

The device that holds the GPS on golf carts only took him several months to create, test and refine. With an outstanding order of 1,200 units at $29.95 each, Owens will just about cover his initial $45,000 investment.

Less than a year and already his idea is paying off.  In terms of bringing an idea to market, that’s almost lightening speed!

The Easier Path to Patents

The inventor trick Owens used to quickly create a profitable invention is simply finding a better way to use an already wildly successful product.

Here’s how he did it…

GPS PatentFirst, Owens found a product that people are already using.

If you are a golfer, you already know GPS units and laser range-finders are all the rage on the links. By linking his product to something that people use and are familiar with, Owens greatly increased his chances of patenting a marketable product.

Second, find a way to make that product easier to use.

In this case, Owen saw his friends fumbling with the GPS units in their pockets, in cart cupholders, seats or open spaces in the dashboard area. By creating a sturdy magnet-based GPS holder – that also didn’t need to be removed constantly – Owens took a great product and made it better.

And if his patent application goes through, he will have the right to prevent anyone else from making, using, or selling his idea.  A legal monopoly that he can charge a royalty percentage or outright sell to another.

Keep these two points in mind next time you are working on your next big idea.

Trackbacks (0) Links to blogs that reference this article Trackback URL
https://www.medicaldevicepatentattorneys.com/2010/10/golfer-reveals-quick-patent-tips-for-medical-device-inventors/trackback/
Send To A Friend Use this form to send this entry to a friend via email.