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
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.