BLOG #0011
THE COMPLETE INVENTION PROCESS WITH UNSPACE
Have you ever wondered just how detailed the invention process is? It’s not as simple as throwing together a prototype and sending off the specs to a manufacturer. No, it’s a delicate ballet of marketing, testing, discovery and working with the USPTO.
To help our client innovators, we put together a UIL Swimlane to visualize the invention process from concept to manufacturing readiness. You can view it at the side of the page or, for a closer look, you can view a PDF of our Swimlane here.
So, let’s break the process down:
The INNOVATOR envisions a concept and solicits UNSPACE for help.
The UNSPACE ENGINEERING TEAM assesses the technical feasibility of the concept and prepares a Technical Feasibility Report.
The INNOVATOR reviews and approves the Technical Feasibility Report.
The UNSPACE MARKETING TEAM then researches the market opportunity, a process which includes identifying competitors, assessing revenue potential and completing a risk assessment scorecard. The findings of the market opportunity research is prepared in another report for the Innovator.
The INNOVATOR reviews and approves the Market Opportunity and Risk Assessment scorecard.
Now, UNSPACE PATENT SERVICES can perform another risk assessment for patentability, this process will serve as the basic strategy for protecting your intellectual property.
It’s up to THE INNOVATOR again to decide whether to proceed based off of the Patentability Risk Assessment.
Now the UNSPACE ENGINEERING TEAM can get to work, creating a preliminary design and drawings for concept.
The INNOVATOR approves the preliminary design.
Next, the UNSPACE ENGINEERING TEAM estimates the Cost of Goods Sold and evaluates profitability. This will include a Cost of Revenue Differential Assessment.
The INNOVATOR will receive a Financial Feasibility Report, the most detailed document to date on the estimated cost it will take to get the product to market.
With the INNOVATOR’s decision to proceed, the UNSPACE PATENT SERVICES TEAM will create and file a Provisional Patent Application.
At this point in the process a one year time limit begins to file for the Non-Provisional Patent Application (What’s the difference between an NPA and a PPA?)
With the PPA filed, The UNSPACE ENGINEERING TEAM will perform a detailed design. With the INNOVATOR’s approval they will proceed to determining and sourcing materials for the prototype.
The UNSPACE ENGINEERING TEAM builds a prototype and performs relevant functional and durability tests relevant to the conditions the conceptual device or tool will operate under.
If the INNOVATOR is satisfied with the prototype, the UNSPACE ENGINEERING TEAM will transfer their details and drawings to the UNSPACE PATENT SERVICES TEAM to prepare materials for the final patent application.
With the PPA filed, the one year time limit is no longer a concern.
This is also where the process branches off between two different paths. In some cases the USPTO will approve the patent application and operations will proceed as normal, but there is also the real risk that the USPTO will reject the patent or require a response.
After a rejection or request for response, The UNSPACE ENGINEERING TEAM and PATENT SERVICES TEAM will work together to change the language of the patent application or, if necessary, make changes to the prototype. UNSPACE will evaluate these changes and notify the Innovator of how they affect the budget and risk assessment.
The PATENT SERVICES TEAM resubmits the PPA to the USPTO.
The USPTO grants a patent to the Innovator, congratulations!
Now that we’re just about ready to go, the UNSPACE MARKETING TEAM will identify licensing and marketing strategies and prepare the innovator with a manufacturing and production consult.
The INNOVATOR is ready launch their product to the world.
