How to Be an Inventor
Week 3
Instructor: Drew Boyd
What does it take to be an Inventor?
• Smart? Creative?
What does it take to be an Inventor?
• Smart? Creative? No!!!
What does it take to be an Inventor?
• Smart? Creative? No!!! • You need to be:
– – – – – – Observant Curious Disciplined Persistent Question asker See possibilities
Agenda
• Review
– Second Tool: Replacement – Lab Books
• Third Tool: Multiplication • Introduction to PATENTS
How Do People Invent Things?
• Find a Solution…
How Do People Invent Things?
• Find a Solution…
then…..
How Do People Invent Things?
• Find a Solution…
then….. • Find a Problem
Don’t Invent Things Like This!
Review Lab Books
• Who has an idea or an invention from their Lab Book that they want to share?
Second Tool: Replacement
1. Find a product and list all of its parts
2. Take a part away 3. REPLACE the part with something else 4. Imagine your “Virtual Product” 5. Ask, “Who would use this?”
Take away the screen…
1. Screen
2. Remote Control
3. Volume
4. Channel
5. Speaker 6. Box
7. Plug
And REPLACE it with what?
• Computer screen • Projector • Head mounted
Examples
• • • • Stapler Ice Skate Coke Can Phone Cradle “Tape-ler” Roller Blade Twist Top Can Belt Phone
Third Tool: Multiplication
1. Find a product and list all of its parts the parts 2. Multiply, or create a copy of one of
3. Change the multiplied component in
some way 4. Imagine your “Virtual Product”
5. Ask, “Who would use this?”
Example: Multiply a Part
“Picture-in-Picture” TV
Patents
• A patent is a property right • Granted by the Government • Excludes others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention • How? Apply to the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office (USTPO)
Patent Examples
Patent Examples
Patent Examples
Patent Examples
Next Week
• Review all the tools so far • Review your LAB BOOKS
– Invent something!!
• Learn a new tool • Practice!