The dictionary defines an invention as “a device, artifice, or process originating after study and experiment.” An idea is defined as “a thought or opinion.” With these definitions, you have to ask yourself how much study and experimentation you really did with your idea. Is your idea a tangible solution or just the recognition of a problem that needs a solution?
How many times have you said to yourself “it would be great if there was a product that could fix this problem?” I’ve had that same thought many times before. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, I wasn’t identifying a real solution but just the need for a solution. Also, I’ve seen many inventors make the same mistake by confusing their “problem identification” with an actual solution, thus wasting unnecessary time focusing on the problem and not the solution.
The real challenge of inventing is not just identifying a need, but also finding a solution. This may seem like common sense; however, I can tell you that I have talked to hundreds of inventors who thought they had an invention, when in reality they had an idea without a well-defined solution.
The inventor can document his invention in one of two ways:
1. Inventor’s notebook or form
Use a bound notebook or invention registration form to register your invention by clearly describing the idea and concept and signing and dating it in ink. Also, have two other people sign and date the book or form as witnesses to your invention.
The description must include the following: consecutively numbered pages, the subject of the invention, a detailed explanation of the invention, drawings or sketches, and a list of features and advantages.
2. Disclosure documents
The inventor can use the USPTO “Disclosure Document Program” and submit disclosure documents; however, the method described above is as good as or better than filing disclosure documents. The USPTO charges a nominal fee to file these documents.
Note: Documentation of your invention is not a substitute for a provisional or non-provisional patent. The purpose is to establish a registration date for your invention and provide you with proper documentation in the event of a dispute.