When you get an idea for an invention, it is easy to consider the challenges, risks, and possible setbacks you may encounter and become discouraged. However, there are many stories of famous inventions that involved all of those setbacks and challenges—inventions that people can’t imagine living without today. While many products are the result of coming up with an idea first, and then developing it, many other projects are inspired by moments in everyday life. Some of the most famous inventions have even been invented entirely by accident. The invention of aspirin is an interesting tale that demonstrates that products often take many years to be perfected. Aspirin is a product that was developed from a natural source, like many of the historical remedies that persist into modern times; acetylsalicylic acid, the pharmacological product, comes from a number of plants, particularly willow.

Medicines derived from willow trees have been part of pharmacopoeias dating back to ancient ages. A stone tablet of medical text dated to approximately 2000 BC lists willow among other plant- and animal-based remedies. Willow-based treatments also appeared starting in the fifth century BC, with Hippocrates’ writings, by the time of Galen, willow was commonly used throughout the Roman and Arab worlds.

The major turning point for medicines with salicylates came in 1763, when Edward Stone discovered and tested dried and powdered willow bark as a treatment for ague, a disease with vague symptoms primarily referring to malaria. Edward Stone was inspired by the doctrine of signatures to search for a treatment for agues near the brackish waters that were known to cause the disease. He had noticed the astringent taste of willow bark previously, and compared it to the standard ague cure of “Peruvian bark.” The two were very different—Peruvian bark was quinine. However, the willow bark did substantially ease fever and pain symptoms. In the 19th century, scientists attempted to isolate and purify the active components of many medicines, including willow bark. Eventually, in 1828, Johann Buchner obtained relatively pure salicin crystals. More attempts refined the process, and by 1838, an Italian chemist named Raffaele Piria found a method of obtaining a more potent acid form of the extract. Through the middle decades of the century, the use of such medications grew considerably, and physicians increasingly knew what to expect from these medicines.

There were unpleasant side effects, including gastric irritation, which came with taking willow-based medicines, which multiple chemists attempted to get around. In 1897, Felix Hoffman, a chemist working with Bayer pharmaceutical, successfully found a good method for producing pure acetylsalicylic acid. The Bayer Company was the first to effectively synthesize the pure product, without any additional chemicals. Gradually, the medicine rose to prominence through the effective advertising of Bayer, until it became the go-to remedy for pain and fever, and to this day it is still considered one of the most effective Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID) drugs on the market. The side effects of the drug, including the potential for children to develop the often-fatal Reye’s Syndrome and some bleeding risks (as part of the mechanism of action) along with competition from other pain relieving drugs, have more recently made aspirin less than universal in use, but it is still for many the go-to medicine for headache and fever, and many doctors prescribe an aspirin regimen as part of a plan to prevent stroke and heart attack.

The development of aspirin from a natural extract to a refined drug to a synthesized medicine demonstrates that the process of creating an invention can be extremely time consuming. The story of the Bayer company, and its success with aspirin, is a testament to the importance of marketing a new invention. Through persistence and patience, aspirin was developed into an indispensable medicine that went on to become a household name.

If you are wondering how to invent a new equestrian product, but worry that it will take too much time, be too difficult, or cost too much money there are ways to reduce these concerns. However, at the same time, new product development is something that is uncertain. It is quite a risk, much like everything in business. No company or invention can guarantee success. So when you are thinking about how to invent a new product, there are plenty of factors to consider.

For one, companies continue to be more innovative. Therefore, there are people coming up with new invention ideas every day and making prototypes as you think about how to invent your idea. That is why it is important to do research and make sure your invention idea is not already on the market. Even if there is a product like the one you came up with, there is always a demand for new or improved products from corporations or individuals with new product ideas.  These products should either solve a problem or improve something and be able to fit in with a certain company’s product line.

For example, if you are thinking about inventing a new equestrian product, one of the most popular products to recently come out is the One K Defender Pro helmet, from English Riding Supply. The helmet is made of the traditional suede and leather, and is in most respects a regular, stylish equestrian helmet. The innovation is that it includes a retractable smoked sun shield to protect your eyes from bright sunlight. The interior of the helmet is polycarbonate and advanced ABS Composite, making it tough enough for the purpose; another strong feature of this product is that it has a washable, quick-dry anti-microbial liner that wicks moisture away. The sun shield is a shatterproof polycarbonate. The inclusion of that particular design feature is a bigger enhancement than it would initially seem; one of the common problems that horse riders experience is the difficulty of seeing on bright days. Prior to this product, the only real way around it was to wear sunglasses—which seems reasonable, until one understands that sunglasses, not being attached to the helmet itself, shift around and move on the face as the ride progresses. Sweat and other factors also cause movement of the sunglasses, which then must be adjusted repeatedly on the face. By including a sunshield in the helmet itself, the product negates the need for the rider to wear sunglasses, and the shield is designed to provide equal protection over the entire field of vision, so that nothing is obscured. Because the visor is also retractable, the rider can put the visor away easily on days that are overcast, or if riding in the late afternoon hours, when the darkening effect of the sunshield would decrease visibility. Another equestrian invention is the Freestyle Turnout blanket by Weatherbeeta. This product comes with a detachable collar with a fleecy lining and a snug fit for comfort. One of the concerns of equestrians and horse enthusiasts is the comfort and health of the horse. This product has a Triple Weave outer shell made of waterproof and breathable fabric which keeps the horse dry and comfortable, as well as dense filling material for warmth. The freestyle gusset is designed to allow the horse’s front legs to move freely; the design also includes shoulder dart cups which prevent blanket rubs. Another important aspect of the design is the tail flap, which is made to allow the horse free movement of its tail, while still protecting from wind and rain. The comfort cuff design offers padding and warmth to the neck, while the wither relief pad lifts the blanket off of the horse’s wither and mane for comfort. The product is also designed with customizable fit features such as the quick clip front closures, which allow up to 10 different options. The fittings are also rust resistant, giving the product longevity, and the blanket includes reflective panels to make it easier to detect the horse at night. The product is an improvement on the existing technology in the way that it accommodates the comfort needs of the horse. The blanket is designed in such a way as to not require any adjustment on the horse’s part, but to also offer the maximum of weather protection. Horses have need of a great deal of care, particularly in winter months or in harsh weather conditions, and this product is an important modification of a long-existing type of product.

The Back on Track neck scarf is an equestrian product that appeals to riders, rather than horses; the product uses a special ceramic fabric, the same variety which is used in therapeutic boots and blankets. The material reflects body warmth to create a soothing thermal heat. It can help alleviate the pain associated with inflamed muscles and ligaments by promoting blood flow. It does not look different from other scarfs, which is an ideal feature; but its unique fabric content makes it an unobtrusive therapy product that allows for riders to continue pursuing their interests while soothing strains and injuries.

When figuring out how to invent your product, you may face some obstacles along the way. This can cause you to lose time, energy and money in trying to get off the ground with a product, especially if you do not know how to invent on your own.  If you face any obstacles or are having a hard time inventing a product alone, keep in mind that there are inventing companies that can help.  One of the biggest obstacles most inventors must overcome when pursuing an idea is being willing to trust someone with their idea.  Make sure to do your research and choose an inventing company that has experience with developing products and getting them on store shelves.  Also make sure that the company will sign a Confidentiality Agreement to ensure that your idea is safe.

Patenting an invention is one of several ways for inventors to protect their intellectual property.  A patent is legal protection of a design, process or other patentable property that is novel. The protection lasts for a specified period, at the end of which the invention becomes part of the public domain. A patent gives the owner the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, trading or importing the invention or process that the patent holder has devised.

Patents can be acquired for a wide variety of inventions, and today there are many ideas and innovations that cater to the particular wants and needs of girls.  If you are in the process of inventing a new product for girls, take a look at some of these unique patents.

The Disposable Swimsuit for Girls (U.S. Patent No. 6582412) is intended to approach a problem that had been solved adequately for boys, but not for girls. While disposable one-piece swimsuits existed in the shape of swim trunks or briefs, the inventor points out that for even very young girls, much of society looks down upon baring of the chest. The need for a disposable swimming garment is pronounced in young children who are not yet toilet-trained, the inventor asserts. In the case of other garments that do cover the correct parts of the young female anatomy, the products are not disposable but intended for multiple uses; this necessitates cleaning of the garment, which can be extremely inconvenient for the parent or care taker. The other option is to have the young girl wear disposable undergarments underneath the bathing suit, but this is impractical, uncomfortable, and inconvenient. In response to this, the inventor created a product that allows for a completely disposable swimming garment, complete with top covering for the sake of modesty and sun protection. The bottom part of the garment has the same absorbent and containment features as similar products for boys, making it possible to contain waste for later disposal. Because the whole garment functions both as a swimsuit and as a diaper, it is more convenient than the existing products; in addition, the fact that it mimics the appearance of a standard swimsuit for girls (in this case, the one piece configuration, as opposed to the bikini or other types), it makes for a socially acceptable garment for the child to wear.

The Young Girls Board Game (U.S. Patent No. 4993717) is a product that is not necessarily need-based, but interested instead in the entertainment opportunities that are provided to young girls. Patented in 1991, the game includes make-up kits, game pieces, a game board, and dice; the game is intended to appeal to girls’ interests in makeup and other fashionable and self-decorative practices such as nail design. The inventor argues that while many board games exist in the history of patented games, this particular game, with its emphasis on typically feminine pursuits, is not a format that has been approached in the past. The game consists of the board, the player pieces, a container for holding the game pieces, the makeup kids, and dice. Each playing piece represents one girl, while each makeup kid is designed to be used by one player. The game board has a continuous path around the perimeter, divided into spaces; each one bears instructions many of which indicate which items the young girl must put on and take off from their makeup kit. The first young girl to put on all of their makeup kit items becomes the winner. The kit includes a ring, necklace, bracelet, earrings, ten fake fingernails, blue and green eye shadow, and blush and blush applicator. The game serves as a counter-balance to unisex or male activity-oriented games that existed in the prior art; it is socially educational, instead of focusing on fact-based education. It encourages girls’ interest in self-beautifying rituals and encourages the learning of the skills associated with those rituals.

The Toy Cooking Utensil with Sound (U.S. Patent No. 3120717) is another product designed for the teaching of cultural values to little girls. The product answers the need for more innovative toys associated with girls’ interests in cooking. The invention explains, “’Playing house’ is a very popular activity for young girls who have awlays been particularly ancious to ‘act like grownups’ and to imitate the actions of their mothers. In order to satisfy this natural desire of young girls, various toy items have been provided in the past…Some cooking utensil companies have produced miniature pots and pans so that the younger children can have play toys which are imitations of their mother’s pots and pans. However, allowing young children to use them on a stove would create quite a danger to the children.” The inventor goes on to explain that the invention is an improved toy which closely resembles the actual cooking utensil, and produces a sound that mimics a cooking activity. In this case, the utensil in question is a frying pan, which makes noises similar to that of the crackling of frying bacon or other items. The sounding device would be located in the handle, providing for the body of the pretend frying pan to be as authentic-looking as possible. The movement of the pan in play, or toggle activation, would produce the pre-recorded audio to enhance pretend-play without the danger of actually using the item to cook. The item is cordless, which contributes to the safety of the girl using the toy, and along with the pan there would be provided simulated food products, such as eggs, or potatoes, or bacon.

Throughout history there have been several individuals who have achieved fame and in some cases fortune by pursuing ideas they have had for new products. Some of these inventors have come across their creations by accident, and some of them saw a problem in their day-to-day lives that inspired them to create a solution. While there are many famous inventors, it’s important to remember that not all inventors achieve fame. However, for those individuals who have created products that fill a long-existing need, notoriety is one of the possible outcomes.

One of the most famous inventors in history is Herman Hollerith, the American statistician who would go on to become the founder of one of the companies that later merged and became IBM. Hollerith developed an early fore-runner of the computers that we use every day in our lives.

Born the son of a German immigrant who worked as a professor in Buffalo, New York, Hollerith went on to enter the City College of New York in 1875. He later graduated from the Columbia University School of Mines with an “Engineer of Mines” degree in 1879. He completed his Ph.D. in 1890 at Columbia University while living in Manhattan and listing himself as a mining engineer. Eventually, he moved to Washington, D.C. and lived in Georgetown.

An acquaintance, John Shaw Billings, urged Hollerith to develop a mechanism that would use electrical connections to trigger a counter and record information. A key premise of the idea was that data could be coded numerically. Hollerith took his inspiration from watching a train conductor punch tickets; he used the punchcard invented by Joseph-Marie Jacquard, whose invention was a way of automatically controlling the warp and weft of threads on a silk loom. Hollerith determined that if numbers could be punched in specific locations on a card, the cards could be counted or sorted mechanically and the data stored. On September 23, 1884, Hollerith filed his patent and later submitted a description of his system to Columbia University as his doctoral thesis. He left teaching and began working for the United States Census Office, building machines under contract that were used to tabulate the 1890 census in only one year; the previous census, taken in 1880, had taken 8 years to be tabulated.

In 1896, Hollerith started his own business, calling it the Tabulating Machine Company; most of the major census bureaus around the world leased his equipment and purchased his cards, along with major insurance companies. Hollerith went on to invent the first automatic card-feed mechanism along with the first key punch—a skilled operator could punch 200 or as many as 300 cards per hour. Hollerith also developed his tabulator; the 1890 tabulator was hardwired to operate only on 1890 Census cards. A plugboard control panel added to the Type I Tabulator in 1906 allowed it to do different jobs without being rebuilt.

In 1911, four corporations including Hollerith’s company, merged to form the Computing Tabulating Recording Company (CTR). In 1924, Thomas J. Watson changed the name to the International Business Machines Corporation as the company president. IBM would go on to create increasingly complex systems of information gathering and recording, culminating in helping to develop the first true computers. They have remained a steady presence in the computing world since the advent of the first computers, and are a lasting legacy to Hollerith’s invention. Hollerith has been honored with a computer programming constant, called Hollerith strings or Hollerith constants, an early type of string constant declaration.

If you have an idea for a new invention, there are a number of different ways to pursue developing the idea. You can follow the traditional process of patenting your own invention and marketing and licensing it yourself or you can contact a company that specializes in new product development, who can take your idea and build prototypes and reach out to businesses that may be interested in adding your idea to their product line. Inventing is always a risk, and very few inventions are successful, but working with a reputable company may be extremely helpful, as the experienced employees of these companies could have a better understanding of what it takes to make a product successful.

George Davison, founder and CEO of the new product development company Davison, came to the idea of reinventing inventing after a personal failure. Mr. Davison spent two years after graduating college developing a product to sanitize toothbrushes only to be discouraged when he discovered that a large corporation had beaten him to the market. The failure of his own invention inspired him to come up with a better way to design, develop and bring new products to market.

He began his new business in his grandfather’s home in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. In 2001, Davison united under one roof in RIDC Park; the 36,000 square foot facility remains the home of Davison’s national sales and licensing divisions. Then, in 2006, the design division moved next door, into the 61,000 square foot Inventionland factory.  In the process of developing his company, George Davison was inspired by his three heroes: Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Walt Disney.

Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, revolutionized transportation when he developed the assembly line process of manufacturing to make a vehicle that middle class Americans could afford. Ford began his career in 1891 as an engineer with the Edison Illuminating Company, working his way up to Chief Engineer in less than three years, at which point he began to experiment with gasoline engines. Ford incorporated the Ford Motor Company in 1903, and introduced the Model T on October 1, 1908. By 1932, the Ford Motor Company was manufacturing one third of all of the world’s automobiles. In addition to revolutionizing the automobile industry, Ford became notable for paying his employees well and his belief that the best way to foster productivity was to introduce types of “profit sharing,” and other benefits.

Thomas Edison is the fourth most prolific inventor in history, holding 1,093 United States patents in his own name. Edison was mainly self-taught, having had difficulties in school. Later, after saving a three-year-old child from being struck by a runaway train, the child’s grateful father taught Edison how to be a telegraph operator. Edison requested the night shift, which gave him plenty of time for reading and experimenting. His first patent was for the electric vote recorder, which was granted on June 1, 1869. The Edison Electric Light Company was founded in 1878 and the Edison Illuminating Company in 1880. Edison continued to be active in business right up to the end of his life.

Walt Disney, who with his brother Roy Disney founded Walt Disney Productions, developed an interest in art from a young age; as a child he took Saturday courses at the Kansas City Art Institute and as a teenager he took night courses at the Chicago Art Institute. After working for the Red Cross in Europe and several failed attempts to get work as an artist, Disney opened his own animation business. Disney would eventually develop his most popular character, Mickey Mouse, and Walt Disney Productions, now called The Walt Disney Company, became one of if not the largest animation and entertainment producers in the world. In 2010 the company earned approximately $36 billion.

When you get an idea for an invention, it is easy to consider the challenges, risks, and possible setbacks you may encounter and become discouraged. However, there are many stories of famous inventions that involved all of those setbacks and challenges—inventions that people can’t imagine living without today. While many products are the result of coming up with an idea first, and then developing it, many other projects are inspired by moments in everyday life. Some of the most famous inventions have even been invented entirely by accident. Some inventions, such as eyeglasses, are the product of not just years but centuries of development and refinement to create a product that meets the changing needs of the consumer, as well as to keep abreast of technological innovations.

Early historical references to the use of magnifying lenses date back to Egyptian hieroglyphs from the 5th century BC, which depict “simple glass lenses.” Later, in the first century AD, Seneca the Younger wrote about the magnification effect of a globe or glass filled with water on script that was small or indistinct. The use of a convex lens to form a magnified image is also written about in a 1021 book, Alhazen’s Book of Optics. Originally written in Arabic, it was not translated until the 12th century, and was vital to the invention of eyeglasses in the 13th century in Italy.

The first eyeglasses were made in approximately 1286, according to a sermon mentioning them being invented “not twenty years since” which was delivered in early 1306 by Dominican friar Giordano da Pisa. The question of the original inventor is still being debated; there have been claims that Marco Polo encountered eyeglasses during his travels—but there are no statements to that effect in his accounts. There were guild regulations in Venice governing the sale of eyeglasses beginning in 1301; shortly before that time, Friar Alessandro della Spina of Pisa took the idea of eyeglasses from the inventor and began to manufacture them, giving them away freely. The earliest pictorial evidence of eyeglass use dates to a 1352 portrait of the cardinal Hugh de Provence.  Early glasses had convex lenses that could correct both farsightedness and presbyopia, which frequently occurs as a result of aging. In 1604, Johannes Kepler published an explanation as to why convex and concave lenses were able to correct presbyopia and myopia. The first glasses were made with quartz lenses, because optical glass had not yet been developed. The lenses were set into bone, metal, or even leather mountings, and were made to be balanced on the bridge of the nose.

Later developments include the invention of bifocals by Benjamin Franklin, who suffered from presbyopia and myopia. Franklin became frustrated by having to change his glasses when he moved from reading and looking out as he traveled or conducted other affairs, and had a technician cut the lenses of both of his pairs of glasses and combine them into one frame. The first bifocals, being made in substantially the same manner, were exceptionally fragile but much more convenient. Later bifocals would be made from fusing two lenses, and then gradually from creating a single lens with multiple focuses. The first lenses for correcting astigmatism were developed in 1825 by a British astronomer, George Airy.

If you are wondering how to invent a new girls toy product, but worry that it will take too much time, be too difficult, or cost too much money there are ways to reduce these concerns. However, at the same time, new product development is something that is uncertain. It is quite a risk, much like everything in business. No company or invention can guarantee success. So when you are thinking about how to invent a new product, there are plenty of factors to consider.

For one, companies continue to be more innovative. Therefore, there are people coming up with new invention ideas every day and making prototypes as you think about how to invent your idea. That is why it is important to do research and make sure your invention idea is not already on the market. Even if there is a product like the one you came up with, there is always a demand for new or improved products from corporations or individuals with new product ideas.  These products should either solve a problem or improve something and be able to fit in with a certain company’s product line.

For example, if you are thinking about inventing a new toy for girls, one of the most popular products to recently come out is the Dream Lites Pillow Pet. The product, with designs suited to girls as well as boys, combines two items into an innovative hybrid that addresses a child’s need for nighttime soothing. Night lights, as a stand-alone product to help children who are afraid of the dark, have existed for many years, as have stuffed animal toys. The Dream Lites Pillow Pet combines a well-designed stuffed animal toy with a lighting mechanism so that the child using the toy has access to both soothers at once. The Pillow Pet comes with four lighting options and also features a timer for automatic shutoff. The last feature is important to many parents, because the unit will serve its purpose in providing their child with light to soothe apprehensions, but it will not be left on all night to drain the battery. Because it does not drain the battery, the maintenance expense of the item is reduced, which is a positive for many parents. The fact that the child has control over the light is an aspect of the design that enhances the calming properties of the unit; the child can choose to push a button and have light as she needs it. The four different light options, including a star projection, provide the child with the ability to suit their own taste, and since the Dream Lites Pillow Pet comes in several different stuffed animal forms, it means that if a child has a particular animal they like the most, that option can be selected for them. The ease of use and convenience factor of combining two existing products into one item is what makes this toy a success.

Another girls toy invention is the Playhouse Carpet. The concept of a child’s playhouse is an old one, but many parents don’t have the space to store a playhouse, nor do many have the skills to build one. Companies exist that will build a child’s playhouse, but the cost is often too much for the parents to pay for. The Playhouse Carpet by Luca and Company solves the problem of space as well as expense, by providing a play house atmosphere through technology. The carpets carry a three-dimensional design created by an architect to recreate the effect of a ground plan. In this way, the carpet takes up far less space than a traditional playhouse, and can be stored easily by rolling it up when play is done. Another benefit is that the three-dimensional design encourages pretend-play; many parents want toys that encourage creativity and imagination in their children. The carpets are also made of hypo-allergenic and anti-static materials that are also stain resistant and non-flammable, which allays concerns that parents might have about safety and hygiene. The success of this product stems mainly from its function as a replacement for bulkier play items, providing a convenient and space-saving alternative. It benefits from sound manufacturing and special materials to ensure that parents can feel good about giving it to their child, and the vivid and colorful design makes it appealing to children. There are multiple designs to choose from, giving the customer the ability to decide what would look best for their child, or interest their child the most.

When figuring out how to invent your product, you may face some obstacles along the way. This can cause you to lose time, energy and money in trying to get off the ground with a product, especially if you do not know how to invent on your own.  If you face any obstacles or are having a hard time inventing a product alone, keep in mind that there are inventing companies that can help.  One of the biggest obstacles most inventors must overcome when pursuing an idea is being willing to trust someone with their idea.  Make sure to do your research and choose an inventing company that has experience with developing products and getting them on store shelves.  Also make sure that the company will sign a Confidentiality Agreement to ensure that your idea is safe.

While some kitchen inventions are developed solely for the purpose to make cooking, baking, and cleaning easier, many inventors have developed products that are inspired by whimsy. Some strange invention ideas are successful, some are not, but they are all interesting to think about. The following inventions are examples of products that have been developed to have funny or strange characteristics, as well as functional aspects; they have most likely been successful due to the fact that they do accomplish tasks in the kitchen, just in an unusual way.

The Throwzini Knife Block is an interesting way for home cooks to vent some of their frustration. The block features five razor-sharp stainless steel knifes, which remain secured by way of magnets. The important design aspect of this particular knife block, however, is that there is a figure in the middle. A red doll, strapped to the center of the wooden circle. The product is designed to look as though the storage of the knives is that long-standing thrill-act of the carnival, the knife throw. The wooden circle is mounted on a metal frame that holds it in the proper position, with protective sheaths on the back area of the circle to keep the knives from being a danger. This is a product for the home cook who dreams of running off and joining the circus, all in all.

While many people believe that eggs are perfectly fine in their standard shapes—that’s how they were designed after all—not everyone agrees. The inventor of the Egg Cuber, for one, wants to help consumers improve on nature by allowing them to turn their eggs into cubes. The jar-like product is fairly simple to use, all things considered: the user boils an egg the way they normally would, and peels it, before placing it into the device while still warm. Then screw the top down, and in moments, a perfect cube-shaped egg can be extracted.

The Spinning Spaghetti Fork could be a helpful tool for those who have never quite mastered the art of twirling strands of pasta on a regular fork. The big, red and white handle holds a button. The user simply puts the tines of the fork into some pasta on a plate and presses the button, which spins the fork, wrapping up a bite of spaghetti. It does not seem entirely practical, however; what if the user accidentally presses the button while taking a bite?

When you get an idea for an invention, it is easy to consider the challenges, risks, and possible setbacks you may encounter and become discouraged. However, there are many stories of famous inventions that involved all of those setbacks and challenges—inventions that people can’t imagine living without today. While many products are the result of coming up with an idea first, and then developing it, many other projects are inspired by moments in everyday life. Some of the most famous inventions have even been invented entirely by accident. Some inventions, such as the Jacuzzi, take advantage of an unforeseen possibility of an existing product, developed by necessity.

The Jacuzzi company was originally founded by seven brothers with the last name Jacuzzi; they immigrated from Italy and settled on the West Coast in California to become machinists. Their first successful designs were actually for aircraft propellers. Rachele, one of the brothers, convinced the others to help him create an aircraft manufacturing company which remained in business until 1976, although their product line changed over the years. In 1921, one of the brothers, Giocondo, was killed when one of their planes crashed between Yosemite and San Francisco. In 1925 the brothers decided to stop making aircraft and instead began manufacturing a new kind of deep well agricultural pump. The design was innovative; they received a Gold Medal at the California State Fair in 1930. 18 years later, in 1948, Candido, another of the brothers, was devastated by the sight of his young child in pain; his son Kenneth had developed rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 15 months. The child received regular hydrotherapy treatments at local hospitals, but Candido could not stand seeing his son suffering between visits. He realized that their agricultural water pumps could be adapted to give his son soothing whirlpool treatments in the bathtub at home. By 1955, the firm decided to market the pump, dubbed “J-300” as a therapeutic aid, selling it in bath supply shops.

To generate publicity for the utterly unknown product, the Jacuzzi Company allowed portable versions to be included in the gifts given to contestants on TV’s Queen for a Day. The product was pitched as providing relief for the worn out housewife, and Hollywood stars like Jayne Mansfield and Randolph Scott publicly declared their love for the product. The whirlpool bathtub started to acquire fame, and the company hired Jack Benny to be a spokesperson.

It was in 1968 that Candido Jacuzzi brought the first self-contained, fully integrated whirlpool bath to market, incorporating jets into the sides of the tub. The jets used a 50/50 ratio of air to water to improve the experience and the model was dubbed the “Roman Bathtub.” Despite its popularity, the whirlpool bath was still mostly a sideline at the Jacuzzi Brothers Company; by far the bulk of their revenue came from sales of water pumps, marine jets, and swimming pool equipment. Hundreds of thousands of Jacuzzi portables were installed indoors and outdoors, at recreation centers and private homes.

In the early 1970s, the company moved forward and produced larger units with heating elements built in along with filtration systems. The company hired Suzanne Somers for several print advertisements. The design’s full integration made it easy to install, and highly portable. As the industry matured, the company’s product line expanded. To date Jacuzzi products are distributed in approximately 60 countries worldwide.

Patenting an invention is one of several ways for inventors to protect their intellectual property.  A patent is legal protection of a design, process or other patentable property that is novel. The protection lasts for a specified period, at the end of which the invention becomes part of the public domain. A patent gives the owner the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, trading or importing the invention or process that the patent holder has devised.

Patents can be acquired for a wide variety of inventions, and today there are many ideas and innovations that take advantage of the new passion for cats.  If you are in the process of inventing a new product for cats, take a look at some of these unique patents.

The cat litter box liner with an absorbent scratch resistant pad, U.S. Patent application number 20120266825, has not yet been awarded a patent. The application was filed on April 19, 2011. The patent is for a product meant to replace regular plastic liners that are currently in use by many owners. The application points out that many times, when the cat using the litter box digs a hole, the claws of the cat get caught in the liner, resulting in the lining being torn, which provides a possibility for waste to seep between the liner and the litter box, exacerbating cleanup and resulting in odor. The other possibility the application describes is that litter is ejected as a result of the cat struggling with the liner, which creates a mess that the owner must then clean up. The patent application suggests a plastic litter box liner with an absorbent upper surface that is thick and smooth, so as to resist damage from scratching and minimize odor. The patent also purports to replace the existing thick plastic liner itself with a cost-effective, thinner liner that is a more biodegradable material. The third aim of the patent application is to provide, in addition to the liner, a second packaging design that also provides pre-portioned cat litter, to enable ease of dispensing. The inventor does not specify the materials to be used, stating that a bio-plastic would be desirable for the liner, and suggests the possibility of starch-based plastics, with heavy-gauged paper for the pad: “Although all plastics are bio-degradable, a bio-plastic which decomposes more rapidly is desirable to reduce waste. For example, the bio-plastic can be selected from a group that includes starch-based plastics, polylactide acid (PLA) plastics, hydride resins... The scratch resistant pad 6 is preferably composed of a heavy gauged paper. For example, the paper can be a butcher paper, paper used for grocery bags and the like. More specifically, the paper is formed by chemical means, as known in the art, to remove the lignin and form a stronger paper that is more scratch resistant.”

Another recent patent which has been awarded is The Litter Box Employing Ultraviolet Irradiation, Patent number 8347819. The product patented is described in the abstract as a litter box for pets which has “a container defined by a bottom and side walls and a germicidal ultraviolet light lamp positioned parallel to the bottom of the container and around the interior peripheral edge of the container, whereby the light from the lamp has an unobstructed path to the absorbent granular material in the container. A motion detector may be provided to turn the lamp off and on when a pet approaches the litter box.” The inventor’s product functions on the understanding that ultraviolet light of a certain type can be used to kill microorganisms. The litter box that the inventor proposes would provide for a set of germicidal UV lamps, with means of support for the lights built into the litter box along the sides as well as parallel to the bottom. The lamp may be positioned from 3 to 12 inches away from the bottom of the container to optimize the light intensity and the coverage. The inventor proposes either a motion detecting device, along with a timer, to ensure that the litter may be treated but not the cat. The patent also features several design possibilities for putting together the invention, including different apparatuses for attaching and arranging the lamps, as well as different configurations of the product to allow for the power cord and any other rigging including the motion detector and/or timer.

A third example of a cat-oriented patent is The Pet-triggered Programmable Toy, Patent number 8347823. The abstract explains, “Our device is an interface between a pet and pet toy or other useful device. A pet can trigger at will a moving highly collimated light dot for exercise, entertainment, mental stimulation, education, and even surrogate companionship in the absence of a human caretaker. Pets that fail to learn triggering behavior will benefit from pre-set play periods as programmed or selected by their caretaker and/or passive activation such as infrared detection or another proximity sensing switch.” The patent explains that many pets spend a great deal of time alone, due to the fact that their caretakers have to work; the result of this is that many pets become sedentary, lethargic, out of physical condition, an d sensory deprived, resorting to chewing on inappropriate items. The product aims to provide an autonomous device that the pet can activate to exercise and receive mental stimulation while the owner is away. The patent takes into consideration previous toys, which stimulate the chase instinct but suffer, according to the patent application, from the fact that the pet is not able to activate them. The device would not be easily carried away, not readily chewable, and minimizes the exposure of pet eyes to intense light. It provides a trigger module configured to detect the pet, at which point a laser dot is reflected into a circular play area, for the pet to chase; the schematic also allows for a control panel which allows human access to basic programming, which would include motor speed and session timing.

There are many aspiring inventors out there.  In order to spend their time and money wisely, it is crucial for them to understand when and how to patent, or whether you even need one at all.  Many people believe that patenting their idea right away is what they need to do and this is not always the best idea.  Smart inventors and reputable inventing companies know that it is best to leave the patenting towards the end of the inventing process, after the idea has been improved and perfected as much as possible.  Remember that you can also team up with an inventing company.    The experienced employees of these companies have a better understanding of what it takes to make your product successful and can be extremely helpful. 

Inventionland, the world's largest invention factory, is where ideas, innovations and new products come to life.  Created by George Davison, founder and CEO of Davison, it is a 61,000 square-foot wonderland located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Inventionland turns out more than 150 new product prototypes every month.

Inventionland is an inspirational, one-of-a-kind factory where employees work in 16 unique themed sets that are specifically designed to spark imagination and foster creative thinking.  The Animation Attic handles all in-house video and animation work. Media products, animation development, and other video products are handled by the talented team of artists in the Animation Attic. Situated in a prime area above the Brainpower Ballpark, the design of this section gives the artists an optimal environment for developing artwork and ideas. The minimalist space provides plenty of room for conceptualization and storyboarding.

The Inventsons is one of the products to come out of Inventionland’s Animation Attic. The concept of the series is of a place where any idea is possible, and Inventsons follows a creative family working to make their world a better place by developing awesome inventions. The Inventsons aren’t your average genius family. They own a unique amusement park that attracts kids from all over—called Inventionland. Inventionland is loosely modeled on the real-life Inventionland offices, and includes some of the landmarks that visitors will find recognizable, such as the Pirate Ship Discovery. The Inventsons run wild with their creativity and make inventions for fun, inspiring other so live by their code: Imagine, Develop, Empower, Amaze. The series even features a villain, the nefarious Balzer, who uses his henchmen and a set of diabolical devices to try and steal the Inventsons’ plans and destroy Inventionland once and for all. The characters include Walt, Sue, Jesse, and their grandfather and mentor, “G,” along with friends like Pedro.   Featuring videos like Balzer’s “World Domination Theatre,” the concept includes an invention in every episode, and the development of the “IDEA” concept: Imagine, Develop, Empower, and Amaze. The Inventsons use their inventions to solve problems as well as to keep the evil Balzer from taking over Inventionland.

The Animation Attic also works on projects such as the webisode series Dare to Invent. Each of the Dare to Invent episodes features animated segments explaining the background of the idea, and the development of successful inventions like Twister Caps and the BikeBoard. The animations serve to augment the larger story of the process each Davison product goes through, providing a balance for the real-world story with the inevitable frustrations that come from trial and error, as well as developing prototypes and marketing ideas. Dare to Invent has not only been featured on its own YouTube channel, but also on The Balancing Act, a huge early morning program for Lifetime TV.

The Animation Attic works on a variety of projects and is always developing new video art for Davison’s range of production needs. With the Animation Attic, Davison’s multi-pronged approach to inventing gets another helpful function.

Many new ideas come to life every month at Inventionland. The Davison team delivers a constant flow of innovative products and ideas to companies, and also offers individuals with ideas a variety of services to help them develop their idea.

“I find it extremely rewarding to be able to help the everyday ‘idea person’ bring their idea for a new product to life, and then hear their reaction after they actually see it in packaging and on the store shelf,” said Mr. Davison. “There’s nothing more exciting.”

When you get an idea for an invention, it is easy to consider the challenges, risks, and possible setbacks you may encounter and become discouraged. However, there are many stories of famous inventions that involved all of those setbacks and challenges—inventions that people can’t imagine living without today. While many products are the result of coming up with an idea first, and then developing it, many other projects are inspired by moments in everyday life. Some of the most famous inventions have even been invented entirely by accident. The microwave is an example of just that occurrence.

Percy Spencer was a self-taught engineer; he was born in Maine in 1894 and lived with his aunt and uncle after his father passed away. He left schooling at the age of 12, and began studying on his own, by way of taking jobs in factories that used electricity and teaching himself about radio technology while he stood watches in the navy. He also taught himself trigonometry, calculus, chemistry, physics, and metallurgy, among other subjects. By 1939 Spencer was one of the world’s leading experts in radar tube design. He worked at Raytheon, a contractor for the American Department of Defense, as a chief of the power tube division. He helped Raytheon win a government contract to develop and produce radar equipment for MIT’s Radiation Laboratory, for a project that became the second-highest priority after the Manhattan Project during WWII. Spencer developed a more efficient way to manufacture magnetron tubes and increased production from 17 per day to 2,600 per day in the span of a few years. It was while working at Raytheon that Spencer made his discovery.

One day, while building magnetrons, Spencer was standing in front of an active radar set when he noticed the candy bar in his pocket had melted. Spencer was not the first to notice the event, but he was the first to investigate. The first food officially cooked by microwave was popcorn. Spencer then found a kettle and cut a hole in the side, then put a whole egg in the kettle and positioned the tube to direct microwaves into the hole. The egg exploded in the face of one of his coworkers, who was observing by looking into the kettle. Spencer then created the first true microwave oven by attaching a high density electromagnetic field generator to an enclosed metal box. The metal box blocked the microwaves from escaping, which allowed for controlled and safe experimentation. Because his work progressed so well, Raytheon filed a patent on October 8, 1945. The product was eventually called a Radarange, with an original cost of $5,000 and a weight of 750 pounds. The first time the public was able to use a microwave oven was in January 1947, when the Speedy Weeny vending machine was placed in Grand Central Terminal. Later that same year the Radarange become available on the market.

If you are wondering how to invent a new grilling product, but worry that it will take too much time, be too difficult, or cost too much money there are ways to reduce these concerns. However, at the same time, new product development is something that is uncertain. It is quite a risk, much like everything in business. No company or invention can guarantee success. So when you are thinking about how to invent a new product, there are plenty of factors to consider.

For one, companies continue to be more innovative. Therefore, there are people coming up with new invention ideas every day and making prototypes as you think about how to invent your idea. That is why it is important to do research and make sure your invention idea is not already on the market. Even if there is a product like the one you came up with, there is always a demand for new or improved products from corporations or individuals with new product ideas.  These products should either solve a problem or improve something and be able to fit in with a certain company’s product line.

For example, if you are thinking about inventing a new grilling product, one of the most popular products to recently come out is the Grill Plate. This invention was developed as an answer to the problem that many grill enthusiasts have, which is that there are certain functions their grill cannot perform. The Grill Plate is designed to turn a gas grill into essentially a convection oven for baking. An important aspect of the invention is that it is easy to use. There is no preheating required, and no complicated set up. The Grill Plate rests on the grate of the grill, directing the heat from the fire below up and around the food being baked.  This innovation gives the user the option to use their grill to bake cookies, muffins, breads, and other items that would traditionally need an oven. Grilling enthusiasts can enjoy being able to use their grills for more than one purpose. It is also useful for survivalists, as the product means that if power goes out, the gas grill can be used for a wider range of applications. The fact that the Grill Plate is lightweight and does not require very much cleanup means that in addition to providing a way to diversify an existing tool, the accessory is convenient for the user. By developing a product that is cost-effective as well as being easy to use, the inventor of the Grill Plate was able to insure success in capturing an elusive idea. The product itself rests on sound principles and scientific innovation to give the user a good experience that constitutes an improvement on existing technologies and products. Another grilling invention is the Magnetic Mini Grill Light. While Barbecues traditionally happen during the day, many times grilling activities go on into the night, which creates a problem for many individuals. While flashlights and other such items can be used to light the grill in order to check food, most of the traditional products in that line require more than one person to be practical; one person would have a difficult time holding a platter to collect the grilled food, a tool to extract it from the grill, and also a flashlight. And so the Magnetic Mini Grill Light solves a problem. It can be attached by way of its magnets either to a particular grill tool or onto the grill itself, providing a small, unobtrusive light by which to see. Because it is small and comes in a pack of three, it also allows the user to position the light specifically where it’s needed, which is another improvement on other options. The product uses LED lights, which create a clear, bright light for the user. Because the lights are constructed with stainless steel forms, they are safe for use with the intense heat of the grill, and no danger of them being damaged if they are left behind for a time. The success of this item is based on the fact that it is a simple, elegant solution to a problem that has existed for many years; the user does not have to have any particular expertise to be able to employ the item, and the usage of the item is foolproof, with no need for the customer to invest much time.

When figuring out how to invent your product, you may face some obstacles along the way. This can cause you to lose time, energy and money in trying to get off the ground with a product, especially if you do not know how to invent on your own.  If you face any obstacles or are having a hard time inventing a product alone, keep in mind that there are inventing companies that can help.  One of the biggest obstacles most inventors must overcome when pursuing an idea is being willing to trust someone with their idea.  Make sure to do your research and choose an inventing company that has experience with developing products and getting them on store shelves.  Also make sure that the company will sign a Confidentiality Agreement to ensure that your idea is safe.

Patenting an invention is one of several ways for inventors to protect their intellectual property.  A patent is legal protection of a design, process or other patentable property that is novel. The protection lasts for a specified period, at the end of which the invention becomes part of the public domain. A patent gives the owner the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, trading or importing the invention or process that the patent holder has devised.

Patents can be acquired for a wide variety of inventions, and today there are many ideas and innovations that help individuals organize and keep their belongings neat and secure.  If you are in the process of inventing a new product for organization, take a look at some of these unique patents.

The Jewelry Security, Organization and Storage Device (U.S. Patent No. 7389868) solves several problems that owners of substantial amounts of jewelry have.  The main concerns of jewelry aficionados include storing their items without damage, in a manner that makes each item easy for the owner to access, while also providing a measure of security from theft. As the inventor points out, prior to the invention in question, there had been available several devices designed to hold jewelry neatly and securely in a small bundle; however, these do not also accomplish the goal of protecting the jewelry from being stolen. There are also devices that are intended to hide the jewelry from detection, but which do not store the items neatly. The third category of prior art includes inventions which hide the jewelry from detection and keep the jewelry neat, but which are not convenient to use, being bulky or heavy, or containing the jewelry in such a way that it is difficult even for the jewelry owner to access. The invention here solves all three problems in one item; the product uses chambers of varying sizes to hold some items of jewelry, with hooks and clips at the top of each chamber which serve the purpose of securing items such as bracelets and necklaces, so as to keep them untangled. It is made of a thin material that can either be disguised as a picture frame or other ornamental non-container item, or alternately hidden within a closet by attaching it to a sturdy hangar and sliding an item of clothing over it on the hanger, thereby obscuring it from view. The object can also be easily accessed by the jewelry owner, as the subterfuge and hiding capabilities do not preclude the easy opening of the box.

The Telescoping CD Organization Device (U.S. Patent No. 6712223) addresses a problem that had been solved to a degree with the advent of previous CD storage devices; however, the previous devices, as the inventor explains, do not provide for easy access to the individual CDs, nor do they accommodate a large number of CDs easily. The types of prior CD devices allow for only one directional storage, and they also do not have the capability of stacking in a horizontal configuration for storing multiple containers. The telescoping CD Organization device, however, allows for inserting the CDs a number of ways into the set of telescoping tubes, which adjust to the volume needs up to a higher degree than previous art was capable of. The device is also able to be stacked both vertically and horizontally, which enables for better ability to store multiples of the device to fit in one area. Because the CD is not held by a rod, any given CD can be easily extracted from the entirety of the storage set, as opposed to having to remove CDs to get to the desired one and then replace them. By incorporating two telescoping tubes, the amount of storage space is greatly optimized. This product is an example of the fact that, when patenting an invention, it is not always necessary to create a product that answers a new problem; nor is it necessary always to have an utterly unique product. This product is designed with the failures of an older system in mind, and tackles an issue that many people probably would have considered already solved.

The Device, Method, and System for clothing organization (U.S. Patent No. 5901888) takes advantage of an existing storage and organization structure.  As the inventor notes, “Most clothing organization systems poorly utilize all available space. The typical "bar and hanger" system requires hangers to be spaced horizontally, leaving sufficient space between hangers to accommodate clothing or accessory items. This typically does not allow for effective use of vertical or horizontal space within the closet or other storage space. In addition, most clothing organization systems do not allow for the "compression" of clothing.” In reviewing the prior inventions, the application explains that while many of them have particular functionalities that assist in the process of organizing clothing, the use of space is not as efficient as a multi-tasking item would be. In the case of this invention, a hanger-type hook is used as the base of the device; on this structure is a system of arms that can be sung to a horizontal position and a system to latch the arms in place. The arms themselves would have holes for the purpose of inserting clothes hangers, and some would have clips for the purpose of hanging other items in a neat and orderly fashion. The devices would be customizable to the needs of the purchaser, with different arm configurations available for different needs.

If you are wondering how to invent a new educational product, but worry that it will take too much time, be too difficult, or cost too much money there are ways to reduce these concerns. However, at the same time, new product development is something that is uncertain. It is quite a risk, much like everything in business. No company or invention can guarantee success. So when you are thinking about how to invent a new product, there are plenty of factors to consider.

For one, companies continue to be more innovative. Therefore, there are people coming up with new invention ideas every day and making prototypes as you think about how to invent your idea. That is why it is important to do research and make sure your invention idea is not already on the market. Even if there is a product like the one you came up with, there is always a demand for new or improved products from corporations or individuals with new product ideas.  These products should either solve a problem or improve something and be able to fit in with a certain company’s product line.

For example, if you are thinking about inventing a new educational product, one of the most popular products to recently come out is the Exploracise Multiplication Table Football. This product has been successful because it appeals to both parents and kids: for parents, it is a tool that can help their children learn more readily, and for kids it is a toy. Parents have long been interested in new toys that stimulate learning, and more recently there has also been a growing concern about promoting a healthy activity level. This product, brightly colored and oversized for ease of use, is something that a parent can play with their child, or that children can play with together, which also reinforces multiplication tables. The idea behind the toy, and other similar toys produced by Exploracise, is that studies have shown that active play increases retention and recall in children. The Multiplication Table Football is easier to use in some respects than flash cards, and as the child is playing and enjoying themselves, there is the added benefit of encouraging children in the pursuit of learning itself. The ball is not hard, like traditional footballs, but stuffed and covered in a soft material that makes it safe for even young players to use. The information is printed clearly, so it is easy to read, and the bright colors appeal to children. A product like this one becomes successful because it addresses a parental concern, but also because having bought it, parents can be assured that their child will use it, which distinguishes it from many educational products in the market—many parents find that they’ve purchased an innovative system that would help their child more easily learn a particular subject, only to find that the child grows quickly bored, or isn’t interested in the first place. Another educational invention is the word game, KerFlip. The game, invented by Damon Tabb, is successful because it responds to a need that many parents have. The game is designed to be accessible to all skill levels, while still providing a challenge to all. Where traditional games have focused on generating individual words, KerFlip’s innovation is that the goal is to use the same letters to generate as many words as possible, with a focus on speed. The word tiles are dropped onto the game board, and the players race to find a word they can identify. When the first player to identify a word calls it out, the rest of the players have a set time to identify words of their own. The pieces are flipped as they are used, so that the first time to use a particular letter gives the player ten points, where the next use of the letter is five points. Another feature of the game is its easy set up and cleaning; at the end of each round, tiles are swept into chutes that are designed into the game board, and there is a funnel aspect to the box that allows them to be easily poured back into the collecting bag at the end. The invention’s success comes from the fact that it is a new idea for a familiar type of game; it has the ability to be adapted to a number of different skill levels, and it encourages improvement in vocabulary.

When figuring out how to invent your product, you may face some obstacles along the way. This can cause you to lose time, energy and money in trying to get off the ground with a product, especially if you do not know how to invent on your own.  If you face any obstacles or are having a hard time inventing a product alone, keep in mind that there are inventing companies that can help.  One of the biggest obstacles most inventors must overcome when pursuing an idea is being willing to trust someone with their idea.  Make sure to do your research and choose an inventing company that has experience with developing products and getting them on store shelves.  Also make sure that the company will sign a Confidentiality Agreement to ensure that your idea is safe.

A typical project is not licensed, sold in stores or profitable.