1. Celebrate patenting easier
For almost A century, our culture has seemingly indoctrinated us in TV, books and movies to trust that we must patent our ideas immediately, lest they fall for the wayside or why not be stolen. It's an expensive and complicated tactic to require a rough idea and grow a patent, so you wouldn't want to enter that $10,000-plus arena without having to be prepared, right?
Ahead of 1880 you truly required a prototype built before it can be patented. While it is not required now, a prototype is a good approach to demonstrate that you built it first. Also, building your idea eliminates the huge benefits and has that will not have already been immediately evident within the rough idea stage. Now, you are able to patent this too, which might provide the best protection in the long run.
The whole process of developing a prototype will greatly assist you in writing, drawing and preparing your patent papers, which can help you save lots of money.
2. Lessen your invention's design
When you build your idea right into a prototype, now you can actually check it out in the real world situations and appear out for design or concept flaws. Some may wish to decrease the route of building a "virtual prototype." Now, there are a lot of advantages to using an artist create a 3D rendition of one's product -- it is simple to present it to potential customers, you can aquire a low-cost idea of how it will look when it is built and you can determine visual options that come with the item -- however, a "virtual prototype" can not be tested in real life. Remember, real life and the virtual world are completely various and 3D drawings don't take into account everything.
Furthermore, this is a great time and energy to workout the aesthetics of your product, creating it for the right user. For example, you would like to ensure its size isn't too big or threatening, when the user will be a child. Alternately you want it to be durable enough when the user is really a mechanic.
Again, many of these tweaks and the like will allow you to out when patenting, as you know very well what to draw in up along with what the benefits are of these features, which didn't exist when it was in its conceptual phase.
3. Prototypes determine the manufacturing process
Eventually, be it you or even the person you find a way to sell the concept to, someone is going to have to manufacture your invention. Prototyping helps you determine what manufacturing processes will be required. Will it be injection molded, ultrasonically welded or die stamped?
Maybe you even need to determine a new manufacturing way to construct your invention, but you'd have to know all this before a producer or a corporation will get up to speed with your project.
4. Determine the best price
The only way to truly understand what the product will really cost to manufacture is simply by prototyping it. As with focusing on how it will be manufactured, you know what the materials to build it will cost or at least what types of materials you will employ.
When prototyping, look at the cost you want to meet. Obviously, this should probably have were only available in design, but later you might realize you have to construct it cheaper. It's a good time to analyze the design and discover ways it may be changed to satisfy a better cost of manufacturing. And, since you'd be doing this before you patent, you can lay aside yourself by not having to file an amendment or even a second patent.
5. It can make it simpler to license or sell
Using a prototype ready, you won't just be in a position to explain exactly what the features and benefits of one's invention are, but additionally be able to get into the numbers to clarify the expenses of producing, the way it will be built, etc. This shows professionalism, trust , companies respect it. For too long, a lot of well-meaning folks have submitted ideas as just paper drawings or hard-to-interpret patents, but having the prototype ready to go -- an additional benefit for those who have sample packaging -- means a whole lot.
There is also the enjoyment factor when presenting an actual, working prototype. Now, they have something to speak about, examine and connect to. This gets marketing people going when considering how you can advertise and showcase it. It also lets everyone handle it and see on their own the validity of one's project. Demonstrations sell.
So, don't underestimate the power of prototyping your invention. It's not only in the very heart of inventing, however it will greatly benefit you in the long run.