Helpful Links

PATENT & TRADEMARK RESOURCES

www.uspto.gov United States Patent and Trademark Office site.

www.copyright.gov United States Copyright site.

www.google.com/patents  Free patent search site that is very easy to use.  Beta version.

www.epo.org
  European Patent Office

http://www.invictaip.co.uk/ Invicta IP Ltd. – UK Patent Services

www.freepatentsonline.com Free patent search tool with printable tiff and pdf’s.

www.patentfetcher.com  Can download free patent pdf’s.

www.patents.com  Free patent search website with advanced search tools.

www.delphion.com Delphion patent search website.

www.patentpro.us Patent software

www.patentityourself.com Link to David Pressman’s book “Patent it Yourself”.

www.snco.com Scientific notebooks – Inventors notebooks.

www.patentsearchinternational.com Will do a patent search for $250 and provide assessment of patentability.

www.dirtcheappatents.com  Low cost patent services.

www.patentdvd.com  Link to free provisional patent do-it-yourself videos.

www.nolo.com Legal resource. Books, articles, etc.

www.findforms.com Legal forms – license agreements, non-disclosure agreements, etc.

www.legalzoom.com  Allows for the simple preparation of personalized, downloadable and printable legal documents and legal forms to your computer instantly.

www.legaldocs.com  Legal forms and contracts.

www.legalmessenger.com  Business and personal legal forms and contracts.

www.daylawfirm.com Trademark attorney.

www.mrtrademark.com  Low cost search and filing services.

www.harpat.com  Harpman & Harpman patent & trademark services

www.patwrite.com  Patent attorney – Mark David Torche

www.m-w.com  Merriam Webster dictionary (also has Thesaurus to aid in prior art searches)

www.dictionary.com  Dictionary/thesaurus to aid in prior art searches.

www.lawshelf.com  LawShelf educational info on Intellectual property.

www.qualtrics.com/blog/what-is-the-public-domain/ What is in the public domain?

PROTOTYPING

www.howstuffworks.com Searchable website that explains how every day things work.

www.thomasnet.com Thomas Registry – Helps you find companies to make or license your product.

www.mcmaster.com McMASTER-CARR on-line industrial supply catalog to aid in prototype development.

www.protogenic.com  Rapid prototyping services.

www.3dimensional.com Full service prototype supplier.

www.quickparts.com Can download CAD files and get instant quotes on rapid prototypes (SLA/SLS/Urethane or short run molds).

www.fdmonly.com Low cost ABS plastic FDM (Fused Deposition Model) protos

www.desktopfactory.com  Low cost ($5000) 3D printer.  Layers of .010″.

www.protomold.com Rapid injection molding. Instant quotes on-line.

www.msinconline.com  Plastic injection molded parts (proto and production).

www.usplastics.com On-line catalog of off the shelf plastic parts.

www.plasticsusa.com On-line reference for plastic material properties and supplier yellow pages.

www.ides.com The plastic web with great plastics resources.  Articles, directory, tools, etc.

www.plasticprototypes.net How to make low cost plastic prototypes using silicone molds.

www.reproduce100s.com  Video on how to make low cost plastic prototypes using silicone molds.

www.hobbycast.net  Materials for casting prototypes at home.

www.shapelock.com Low temp plastic for easy home modeling of prototypes by hand.

www.a-aelectric.com Electronic components (switches, lights, controllers, etc.)

www.radioshack.com Electronic components

www.designnotes.com Electronic hardware

www.msquaredelectronics.com  Electronic & electro-mechanical contract design & mfg.

www.emachineshop.com Site where you can design, price and order customer machined parts on-line. Free 3D modeling software.

www.tormach.com  Low cost (~$10,000) CNC machining center.

www.firstcut.com  24hr. turnaround of CNC machined plastic parts.

www.made-in-china.com Searchable database of low cost components and suppliers.

www.injectionmolder.net  Inexpensive small benchtop injection molding machine that allows you to mold small parts (<17.5g) using PE, PS or PP.  Only $1495.

www.3d3solutions.com  Low cost ($999) software solution allowing you to use a digital camera and LCD projector to scan parts into 3D models.

https://Maker.Pro/ Electronic projects.

MAGAZINES/BOOKS

www.entrepreneur.com Excellent business resource.

www.mediafinder.com Resource for finding magazines, journals and newspapers.

http://bookstore.gpo.gov US Government Printing Office. Books and pamphlets on several topics.

www.inventorsdigest.com Inventors Digest Magazine.

www.fourhourworkweek.com  Great book to show how you can work less and make more.  Some inventor resources as well as ways to make revenue while you sleep.

www.trafford.com Low cost publishing on-demand company. They will publish and market your book.  You maintain the copyright ownership.

www.lulu.com  Print on demand publishing company.  This one is excellent.  You can literally set up a book for download or printing in about 15 minutes through their on-line wizard.  Also good for instruction manuels, photo albums, reports, etc.

www.createspace.com  Amazon self publishing website.

www.tradepub.com Resource of free trade publications.

www.findarticles.com Searchable database of various magazine articles. Great resource tool!!

www.dondebelak.com Various downloadable articles and resources on inventing.

www.inventorhome.com James White’s website full of great inventor resources. James is author of “Will it Sell”.

www.docie.com  Author of “The Inventor’s Bible”.  Inventor resources on site.

www.inventor-mentor.com  Jack Lander’s website.  Jack write’s articles for Inventor’s Digest on prototyping and also has authored an inventor book “How to Finance your Invention”.  He also offers mentoring services.

Mailbox Money!: Step by Step Guid to Licensing your Invention for Royalties

Inventing on a Shoestring Budget: Insider tips for bringing your product to market without breaking the bank!

The Everything Inventors & Patents Book

DESIGN

www.alibre.com Alibre Design – Windows based 3D CAD modeling software. Best value in 3D modeling capability and what I use for all my 3D models and 2D detailed drawings.  Click link for more info on free versions for evaluation. www.dcad.com Delta CAD – very easy, low cost 2D CAD software.

www.patentdrafting.com  Patent drawing services (fee for service)

www.solidworks.com  Solid Works Windows based 3D CAD modeling software.

www.solid-edge.com  Solid Edge Windows based 3D CAD modeling software. They also have a free 2D version that can be downloaded from their site.

www.spacetechsolutions.com  NASA service – transfers knowledge and technology of space program to small business. 40hrs. of free technical assistance available.

www.techsavvy.com  Search for companies, military specs & commercial/industrial standards.

www.1800mylogo.com   Low cost service that can develop a custom logo.

www.designmyidea.com   Invention service company that provides design, prototype and marketing services.

www.carrdesignservices.com   Steve Carr is an excellent design providing low cost design services to inventors.  He did some work on my Stay N Cool cup and did a great job.

INVENTOR CONVENTIONS

www.inventhelper.org  Minnesota inventors Congress

www.yankeeinventionexpo.org  Yankee Invention Expo

www.ingenuityexpo.com   Ingenuity Exposition

MARKETING

www.expoguide.com  Guide to conferences and exhibitions.

www.tsnn.com  Trade show resource

www.trade-show-vendors.com/ Helpful trade show resources.

www.fairsnet.org  Fairs, trade shows and convention resource.  Try marketing your product at fairs!

www.catalogs.com   Listing of various catalogs that you can market your invention for sale.

www.switchboard.com  On-line yellow pages

www.sec.gov  Security and exchange commission – good site for researching large companies.

www.jigsaw.com  Business contact list service

www.bigbook.com  Company info – business research

www.barcode-barcode.info  Low cost bar codes ($89 ea.). Doesn’t require annual membership.

www.demographia.com   Demographic info for the US and large international cities.

www.dryfork.com   3D presentation software.  Liven up your presentation.

www.catalogtime.com   Website with info on how to sell your product to catalogs.

www.writersmarket.com   Magazine listings (contacts, distribution, etc.).

www.ccr.gov   US Government Central Contract Registration.  Register your business to bid on government contracts.  Need a duns#.

www.fedbizopps.gov   Site to research government bid opportunities.

www.prweb.com   Low cost press release service.  Help you write and distribute your press release.  Various price levels ranging from $80 to $360.

BUSINESS RESOURCES

www.allbusiness.com   Great resource if you decide to start your own business.

www.govliquidation.com   Government liquidation auction site.

www.gotomypc.com   Sets up remote access to your computer when on the road.

www.gotomeeting.com  Great site for meetings where you need to share presentations or data.  Also can be used for Webinars.

www.domainsinseconds.com   $40 domains.

www.skype.com   Voice over IP service.  Low cost phone service when traveling.

www.craigslist.org   Great site for finding stuff for sale around the world (or even locally).

www.freetranslation.com   Site that translate English in several languages.  Kind of fun but you should have a native check for accuracy.

www.ehealthinsurance.com  Health insurance quotes on-line (if you decide to start your own business to market your idea).

www.score.org  SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). Offers business guidance.

www.guru.com   Collection of freelancers that can quote work you need to outsource.  Great spot for services such as website development, graphic artists, legal, computer programming, business support, etc.   You can also post your own profile and do some moonlighting yourself!

www.elance.com   Freelance spot similar to guru.com that allows you to post projects for freelancers to support your new product or business start-up.

www.startupnation.com   Great resource for anyone wanting to start a business.

www.openoffice.org   Free office suite developed by Sun Microsystems.

https://docs.google.com   Google Docs.  Service that allows you to share presentations, spreadsheets and documents.  Can be limited sharing or published allowing a separate URL for a presentation and HTML code for pasting in presentations.

www.manta.com   Free business research site similar to D&B.  Get company contacts, sales and location info.

www.wordpress.org   Blogging software allowing you to add a blog to your website.

INVENTOR CLUBS/ASSOCIATIONS:

www.uiausa.org  United Inventors Association

www.inventorsdirect.org  The Inventors Council of Mid-Michigan.

www.invention-ifia.ch   International inventor association.

www.ipo.org  Intellectual Property Owners association.

www.oklahomainventors.com  Great inventor club website with downloadable forms, articles and great links.

www.tbic.us   Tampa Bay Inventors Club

MISC. INVENTOR RESOURCES

http://web.mit.edu/invent/h-main.html  Lemelson-MIT free downloadable inventors handbook.

www.greatideagear.com  Inventor resources including links, books and software. www.inventnet.com InventNet Forum for inventors.

www.inventorfraud.com  National Inventor Fraud Center. Info re: fraudulent invention promotion companies.

www.money4ideas.com   Harvey Reese & Associates.  Invention marketing and resources.

www.lambertinvent.com   Invention marketing and resources.

www.discovergames.com   Game agent and game inventor resources.

www.inventorspot.com   American Inventor TV Blog.

www.inventright.com   Successful inventor that offers resources for bringing ideas to market.  Featured on Dr. Phil and American Inventor.

https://eepower.com/ Digital publication focused on the power electronics industry. The publication features technical articles, design tips, and application notes from the industry’s leading power electronics engineers and application experts

NEW PRODUCTS WANTED

www.kraco.com/ideas.htm  Automotive products – ideas wanted!

www.benjaminobdyke.com  Innovative building products manufacturer – ideas wanted!

www.dialcorp.com   Home care, personal care, adhesives, sealants & surface treatments.

www.qvcproductsearch.com  QVC’s product search page.

www.newideatrade.com   Website for posting inventions and for manufacturers to locate inventions for licensing.

www.faultlessinventors.com   Makers of the garden weasel are looking for outside inventions.