Hey guys, I'm inventing something. It's more of a bling thing than anything that will change your sound, but I've got a working prototype. It started off as just modification, but I've streamlined the parts cost enough that it actually might work for a production harp.
I don't have a patent (a provisional patent would almost break the bank), and, well, I probably can't afford one. I can adapt it to most harps and the non-harp people I've shown it to think it's pretty cool. Anyway, I've mentioned that I was working on it to a couple people, and I think there are 2-3 markets for it- the DIY market, the custom market, and the OTB market. Anyway, only one harp person besides me know the details. I'm waiting to see if they want to do anything with it, but in the meantime I thought I'd check to see what other options are if they aren't. It's a simple enough idea that it probably needs a patent because it's pretty easy to copy.
What I'm wondering is, how do the different harp companies handle people approaching them with new ideas? Is it something where I absolutely need a patent (or at least a provisional patent), or will non-disclosure forms work? Who are good people to contact?
edit- I'm talking particularly about the manufacturers. I know a lot of you customizers. I've already mentioned to one person that I'll give them a crack at it if my first contact doesn't pan out.
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Last Edited by nacoran on May 06, 2013 7:06 PM
Hmmmm! Patents? Been there, done that, got the ulcers to prove it. Don't know what it's like in the States but here it is so expensive just for the UK but you'd need WorldWide Patent Protection which I guess would be almost prohibitive. Once you have protection, you'll need a team of investigators checking out all the little backstreet workshops all over the world who may be infringing your intellectual property.
Don't know how you're going to play this one Nate but good luck. It's a jungle out there, believe me.
After three years of secrecy and turmoil, I decided to give it all away for free and just put plans on the web to show people how to make their own device that I invented. If you''re interested there are details here. It will explain what I did. My invention.
Last Edited by tookatooka on May 07, 2013 5:02 AM
Hi, First thing to do is to make a copy of any drawings, plans and a full description of what you have. Then, put into an envelope and send it to yourself by REGISTERED MAIL. When it arrives, don't open it - just keep it in a safe place. This may be of help because it would provide proof that you had this idea on such-and-such a date. If you get to manufacturer and he shows an interest in it, try to get a percentage of each unit made or sold. Try NOT to get a percentage of the profits, because large corporations have all sorts of accountants and lawyers who can prove the this item has never made a profit. After all, they have to account for all the R&D, patent search costs, etc. - and that can take forever. My brother has gone through this. He invented something, got it patented, and turned it over to the Co. that he worked for and as far as I know, it has never made a profit. And he invented it 20 years ago. Finally, go to the library and get every book you can find on getting a patent or marketing your invention.
Maybe a lawyer is reading this who can provide better help than I can.
Jaybird, lol, if I didn't have so many creditors banging on my door that would probably be my tactic, but I feel a vague sense of duty to try to get them some of their money, and I already approached someone in the business, so until they tell me otherwise I feel obligated to keep it under my hat.
Really though, I'd just love to be able to say 'I made this'.
Perhaps you should consider contacting Brendan Power for advice. Brendan certainly has experience with this, he brought his idea for half valving to Suzuki and they incorporated it into their MR350V (aka the half valved ProMaster) and they had a deal where Brendan received a small commission on every MR350V they sold for around 5 years (this is just from memory, so it's possible I may be mistaken about some of the exact details). And then of course he also brought Suzuki the idea that would eventually become the Sub30 harmonica.
As far as a major harmonica manufacturer producing your invention, my guess is that Suzuki would be your best bet. Not only does Suzuki have the resources, but they also seem to be the most forward looking harmonica company and they seem the most willing to try out new/innovative/radical designs. There are numerous examples of this in the products Suzuki has available.
Seydel did have a period of innovating with their stainless steel reeds, and their configurable harmonicas, but at the moment they seem to have focused on offering their quality harmonicas in as many different tunings and layouts as possible (which is a business innovation in and of itself, and it allows their customers to innovate with with their own unique tuning layouts). Although Seydel did make a deal to market Dick Sjoeberg's UST embossing/customizing tool. So if it a harmonica accessory that can be produced without needing a huge initial investment in order to produce (as opposed to something like an all new harmonica design that would require a huge investment in the manufacturing equipment neccessary to producing the new design, not to mention all the technical design aspects involved in mass producing something like an innovative new harmonica), then I think you would have a better chance of getting a major harmonica manufacturer interested. For example, Bendan's half valving concept didn't require Suzuki to make a huge investment to start producing. They simply had to take one of the harmonicas that they already produce ( ie. the ProMaster) and simply add some valves. Although, on the other hand, the idea for the Sub30 must have required a huge investment from Suzuki, not just in manufacturing but also in also in the technical design aspects that were neccessary. But Suzuki was willing to do it (even though it took about 20 years to finally get it to market) because it was such an incredible innovative design, and as I said before Suzuki is a very forward looking company that is willing to experiment and take some risks.
Hohner seems to go through periods of trying to innovative. For example their designs for the CX-12 chromatic and their XB-40 were very innovative. And before that they produced Chamber Huang's extremely innovative design for the CBH 2016 chromatic. But at the moment they seem to be in a period where they're more focused on increasing the overall quality of harmonicas they already produce as well as just focusing on turning out out a consistently high quality product (which is a noble goal, innovation is great, but it doesn't mean much if the quality of your product is junk). Anyone who plays hohner's handmade series (ie. Marine Band, Sp20, Golden Melody, Crossover, etc.), and has purchased one recently, knows just how much better they are now than they were even 5 or 6 years ago. IMHO, the Hohner hand made series harps are the best they've ever been. But Hohner did recently incorporate Joe Filisko's innovative conical coverplate design into the low tuned Thunderbirds (and that conica coverplate design apparently took quite a bit of work to figure out how to produce on the manufacturing end). But overall, of the three (Suzuki, Seydel, and Hohner) I would think Hohner would be the least likely to pick up your idea. As I said before, I think Suzuki would be your best bet of the major harmonica manufacturers, followed by Seydel (depending on what you idea is exactly. If it's a relatively simple accessory, in that case, Seydel might actually be your best bet).
Last Edited by REM on May 07, 2013 3:39 PM
Ideas are great. That's what makes better tomatoes, nail clippers, and harmonicas. The thing about it is, ideas are like short stops on a little league team. There are 1,000s of them.
Ideas and concepts are like kids. The real work is raising them after they are born. The difference between a bad idea and a great one are in the hands of those that have to do the work after the notion is born.
Someone has to take that idea and design it, build it, invest it in, market it, and then sell it. I don't really buy into the notion that the companies that do this are evil trying to make it on the backs of every person out there with an idea.
Pitch your idea to someone that not only has a good reputation, but the integrity to tell you it is a bad idea or concept.
Willie sold "Crazy" for $50, but it was $50 he needed. Nobody knew then what it would be.
---------- Greg Jones 16:23 Custom Harmonicas greg@1623customharmonicas.com 1623customharmonicas.com
