Patent Referral Services: How to Patent an Idea

What Are Patent Referral Services?

Patenting an idea is the legal process of protecting intellectual property (IP) by giving the owner of the patent the exclusive right to make, use or sell an invention for a fixed period of time, thereby excluding others from doing the same. As such, not every invention is patentable.

As the pioneering product design services firm, MAKO is proud to have developed long-standing relationships with patent attorneys from coast to coast in the last 20 years. We have grown a network of patent attorneys who are ready to help you obtain the right type of patent for an idea and answer all of your patenting-related questions. Have the peace of mind of getting quality patenting services, affordably. And for clients who have an existing patent attorney, we’ll be more than happy to work with them too. Because protecting your intellectual property is our priority.

1. PRODUCT & BUSINESS STRATEGY

INITIAL MEETINGS / PRODUCT GUIDELINES / NDA

First, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is signed by all parties to keep all invention information confidential. From there, every design project starts with strong communication and a deep understanding of the inventor’s idea to discuss business objectives, timeline, product requirements, monetization plans, the market, etc. From all of this, a Product Design Document is put together so we can keep accurate track of all design specifications throughout the course of this project. MAKO has developed proprietary systems for this to ensure that everyone is always on the same page and that all changes are tracked in real-time throughout the product design services process!

2. DESIGN & PROTOTYPE

CAD / OPTIMIZE / DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURING

Based on the Product Design Document, we’ll begin to conceptualize the idea, first with sketches, building out a 3D virtual CAD using state-of-the-art, full manufacturing-grade top-of-the-line software such as Solidworks Premier or Fusion360. We then build iterations of the product called prototypes to identify real-world improvement opportunities to optimize the final design. Both the CAD design and prototyping phases are highly technical and complex processes as each CAD includes the critical engineering and design proprietary data that makes the invention unique. At MAKO, we ensure this data is well-organized and prioritize design for manufacturing (DFM) to make the patent application process much smoother and more efficient to help the inventor save valuable time and money.

3. PATENT

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION

Once the prototyping phase is complete and the inventor has a finalized design, this is the recommended time to explore how to get a patent on an idea. Because it’s at this stage where inventors are certain there are no further changes required to the final design as any changes after the fact may affect the enforceability of the inventor’s existing patent. For those who are ready to patent, MAKO can guide you to the right patent attorneys to help you avoid common patent application mistakes depending on the types of patents while meeting your timeline and budget requirements.

PROTECTION & BEYOND

Intellectual property protection is just one benefit of patenting physical consumer product inventions. As the inventor nears the end of the product development process, they may decide to pitch to retailers and wholesalers, license the product, or try to attract investors. For those whose inventions are patentable, having a patent may help the inventor set themselves apart from their competitors. Obtaining a patent adds credibility, minimizes risk, and proves that the inventor is deeply invested in the success of their idea.

OPTION 1:
CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT
TO MANUFACTURING

The way most new inventions become successful products is to get to manufacturing and selling products. Once engineering is done, MAKO Design can complete the prototyping and manufacturing of your invention for you. We are a one-stop-shop from sketch to production then to sales. Half of our products are physical inventions, the other half are electronics products. Either way, we’re a full-stack in-house development firm. Below is a full list of all steps to get your product to production and then get your product out to market buyers!

OPTION 2:
LICENSE YOUR PRODUCT
TO A BRAND

Some inventors just want to get their product designed to a point where they can then license their invention idea to an existing product brand. Either way you go, completing world-class product design is a critical first step. If looking to license directly after design, MAKO would then set you up with a patent attorney so you can protect your IP before pitching your idea to licensors. Keep in mind that the further you develop your product, the higher the probability of licensing, so you may want to have MAKO engineer and/or prototype your design before you start pitching to get a licensing deal.

OPTION 3:
RAISE INVESTMENT TO
CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT

Raising money is a very normal part of getting a hardware product off the ground, and with MAKO’s help, anyone can do it! In fact, half of MAKO’s clients don’t start with enough funds to complete development and manufacturing. First and foremost, before raising any money, even from friends and family, it is essential that you complete at least the product design portion yourself. Even then, the further you push into engineering and especially prototyping, the better you look to investors, the more money you can raise, and the less equity you will have to give away.

1. PRODUCT DESIGN

This includes industrial design services. This is the first and most important step in the product development process. This is the foundation of all product development to come, so is critically important to have it done right.

2. ENGINEERING

Mechanical engineering services and electrical engineering services (for those products with electronics) are the detailed work on the CAD to ensure that all components of the product design work cohesively, reliably, and predictably.

3. PROTOTYPING

Before the product reaches the market, it’s important to test the form and functionality with a prototype. Prototypes are also a great way to generate traction for marketing, pre-sales, crowdfunding, and financing initiatives.

4. PATENTING

This is the current phase. We have preferred connections and pricing with a network of patent attorneys to help our clients with all things related to IP (Intellectual Property) protection. Our clients get quality patenting work, affordably through our network of US and Canadian patent attorneys.

5. MANUFACTURING

Once the prototyping and engineering are complete, tested, and refined, the product is ready to move to production. This may happen after preselling through crowdfunding, or before selling if you choose to sell direct to buyers once you have inventory in stock.

6. SELLING

MAKO Design has many connections to help our clients launch and sell products. There are three main options: Pre-selling through crowdfunding, bulk order sales directly to wholesalers, distributors, retailers, and/or direct to the end-customer.