I came up with a simple yet unique device to increase tom resonance. After testing many drums companies at Dale's (with Keith Larsen) I found that Trick Drum Company toms would be the most improved.
(Clint - I have made some changes in the design with the overall principle being the same.)
I contacted Trick and explained the test we used. And explained how the simple device could enhance tom resonance. I got I polite Email from the owner telling me he has too much on his plate right now.
I also sent a package to DW with other drum designs. I got an Email back from the head of research and development. She said that they really liked many of the ideas, they were well thought out and show some promise, but the cost of retooling at this time is not an option. And they have many new items they are about to unveil and they have too many things on their plate right now.
I think part of the problem right now is that the economy sucks and no one is investing in anything until we have more security in our economy.
Do it yourself and sell it on eBay using key search terms in the title. If it's that small plate you showed me, you can probably ship them in 3 days to anywhere in the U.S. for $4.80. Put that in the price you want and get fee discounts for using free shipping.
After you get the patents, write up a promo article with pictures and send it to all the drum magazines for the new products section.
...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...
lonewolf wrote:Do it yourself and sell it on eBay using key search terms in the title. If it's that small plate you showed me, you can probably ship them in 3 days to anywhere in the U.S. for $4.80. Put that in the price you want and get fee discounts for using free shipping.
After you get the patents, write up a promo article with pictures and send it to all the drum magazines for the new products section.
Jeff, The full patent is expensive when going through a patent attorney. Any idea of costs in a "do it yourself" program ? And are they safe ?
For anyone who is reding this, the mounts flat out work. They do increase resonance and open up the drum. And...they are simple to use. Good luck Bill, I think you have a winner. Hopefully the economy opens up and you can get some things happening.
CCdrums wrote:For anyone who is reding this, the mounts flat out work. They do increase resonance and open up the drum. And...they are simple to use. Good luck Bill, I think you have a winner. Hopefully the economy opens up and you can get some things happening.
Bill, first off, I think that's an awesome design!
Having said that, be very careful about marketing this until you get it patented or atleast 'patent applied for.'
I'd hate to see some one steal your design and profit from your hard work.
You're an intellegent man, so I'm sure that you have that very idea. I wish that I could help you. I'll try to see what information I can find on patents and such and if I find anything of value I'll pm it to you.
-Joe
metalchurch wrote:Bill, first off, I think that's an awesome design!
Having said that, be very careful about marketing this until you get it patented or atleast 'patent applied for.'
I'd hate to see some one steal your design and profit from your hard work.
You're an intellegent man, so I'm sure that you have that very idea. I wish that I could help you. I'll try to see what information I can find on patents and such and if I find anything of value I'll pm it to you.
-Joe
Thanks man. I do have a provisional patent that will semi-protect me for one year from date of issue. After that I have to fully apply or loose it.
metalchurch wrote:Bill, first off, I think that's an awesome design!
Having said that, be very careful about marketing this until you get it patented or atleast 'patent applied for.'
I'd hate to see some one steal your design and profit from your hard work.
You're an intellegent man, so I'm sure that you have that very idea. I wish that I could help you. I'll try to see what information I can find on patents and such and if I find anything of value I'll pm it to you.
-Joe
Thanks man. I do have a provisional patent that will semi-protect me for one year from date of issue. After that I have to fully apply or loose it.
So can you simply renew that each year until you get the funds to fully apply for the patent?
Or after that intial year, is it first come first serve and someone could beat you to it before you get a chance to renew it?
If you dont mind me asking, how much is it to get the patent? (You can pm me if you want)
metalchurch wrote:Bill, first off, I think that's an awesome design!
Having said that, be very careful about marketing this until you get it patented or atleast 'patent applied for.'
I'd hate to see some one steal your design and profit from your hard work.
You're an intellegent man, so I'm sure that you have that very idea. I wish that I could help you. I'll try to see what information I can find on patents and such and if I find anything of value I'll pm it to you.
-Joe
Thanks man. I do have a provisional patent that will semi-protect me for one year from date of issue. After that I have to fully apply or loose it.
So can you simply renew that each year until you get the funds to fully apply for the patent?
Or after that intial year, is it first come first serve and someone could beat you to it before you get a chance to renew it?
If you dont mind me asking, how much is it to get the patent? (You can pm me if you want)
Don't mind at all.
Through a patent attorney it could run from $8,000 to $10,000 or $15,000.
After one year I cannot re-up as far as I know. The cost for the provisional (I have two) was about $1,000 each through attorneys in State College.
Wow, so as of now, you can only hope that you sell enough to fund the 8-10k for the patent?
What a predicament to be in. I have no doubt that once things fall in place that your product would sell, it's just the getting it off the ground and getting the word of mouth out there that sucks initially.
Have you thought about a partner that would fund it for a percentage or a cut?
Are the funds the problem? I know that's alot of money to come up with, but you know it will pay off, but how long will that take is anyone's guess.
An old friend offered me $50,000 and another offered $2,000 and a brother in law offered to help. It's a scary thing to play with some one else's money though, so as of now, I have not accepted their offers.
All of these offers were prior to the economic down turn. So I'm not even sure they are still on the table.
I'm exploring all avenues and like I said...the adventure is a blast ! I don't expect to get rich, just have some fun. It would be cool to start my own company though, and hire a few people. Rockpager "paul" had his company make some prototypes for me and he has done some lacquer finishes for me. It's all fun.
Very cool Bill.
I see what you mean about messing with someone else's money, and I'd imagine that it's alot to think about for sure.
Are there any Drum Expos and things of that nature that take place?
Maybe selling your idea to a well known manufacture and/or getting commission from sales might be another avenue to explore.
But if you're like me, I'd rather keep the idea and profits to myself and try to do it on my own first.
I'm surprised that no other company hasn't messed with a design like that yet.
Regardless what you decide, I wish you the best. I know that you're having fun with this and by helping others out has been rewarding, but it would be nice to see you profit from your design.
I have heard of the "Poor man's patent" ..Not sure how true it holds but you detail the drawings, write up, and pictures. Have them notorized and then send them off to yourself and a friend/lawyer and never open it....That way if something comes out and you want to fight it, you hand the judge/lawyer your "dated-sealed" envelope with proof of your idea.
Trucula wrote:I have heard of the "Poor man's patent" ..Not sure how true it holds but you detail the drawings, write up, and pictures. Have them notorized and then send them off to yourself and a friend/lawyer and never open it....That way if something comes out and you want to fight it, you hand the judge/lawyer your "dated-sealed" envelope with proof of your idea.
That's a poor man's copyright, not patent. With a patent it isn't who had the idea first, it's who registered for a patent first.
Copyrights are automatically yours when you create the work. It doesn't work that way with a patent.
Watch out for some of those cheap patent sites, Bill. A lot of them are simply people who search the patent archives online and give you their opinion about the patentability of your product for $$$. The real work has to be done by a lawyer. If I remember correctly, they also have to take a special Bar exam to become a "patent lawyer".
Ron wrote:
That's a poor man's copyright, not patent. With a patent it isn't who had the idea first, it's who registered for a patent first.
Copyrights are automatically yours when you create the work. It doesn't work that way with a patent.
that's not true. US Patents are first to invent, not first to file. However, someone else could apply for a patent, and they can't research every guy in the US's tool shed.
Ron wrote:
That's a poor man's copyright, not patent. With a patent it isn't who had the idea first, it's who registered for a patent first.
Copyrights are automatically yours when you create the work. It doesn't work that way with a patent.
that's not true. US Patents are first to invent, not first to file. However, someone else could apply for a patent, and they can't research every guy in the US's tool shed.
My dad is a patent examiner.
Patent law is pretty complex. Thanks for the correction, Mitch. I had it straight in my head, but it didn't come across in my post. I was just trying to say that the "poor man's patent" won't work. The only thing it could do is render the invention "unpatentable". (correct me if I'm wrong on that).
