Got an idea for a blade/tool. Looking for a manufacturer or knife company to work with

F

FerFAL

Joined
Aug 15, 2007
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I came up with this idea for a blade that is very simple yet could be potentially very useful.

Its simple, small and light. Cheap and easy enough to manufacture and yet I have little doubt that it would sell very well.

The thing is, it’s the kind of thing once you show it anyone can go “oh, that’s so obvious why didn’t I think of it” say no we’re not interest and just do it themselves.

So I’m looking for perhaps a serious knife company that can be trusted not to screw you over like that.

Anyone has any suggestions? I just sent CRKT an email. They seem to work with lots of designers.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

FerFAL
 
FerFAL said:
I came up with this idea for a blade that is very simple yet could be potentially very useful.

Its simple, small and light. Cheap and easy enough to manufacture and yet I have little doubt that it would sell very well.

The thing is, it’s the kind of thing once you show it anyone can go “oh, that’s so obvious why didn’t I think of it” say no we’re not interest and just do it themselves.

So I’m looking for perhaps a serious knife company that can be trusted not to screw you over like that.

Anyone has any suggestions? I just sent CRKT an email. They seem to work with lots of designers.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

FerFAL
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In business, you need to protect yourself and not "trust a company to not screw you over".

Get a design patent, prototype (doesn't have to be steel), and a lawyer.
Bringing a design to production will cost money.
Be prepared to spend some.
You'll also need a cost/profit analysis to present with your pitch.
Remember you are basically trying to sell your idea, and will need to show that it's profitable for the company to invest in your idea.
"If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense"
 
Interesting fact. Tim Leatherman of Leatherman multi tool fame hawked his invention to Gerber and was turned down as it was impractical. Go figure!--KV
 
R.c.s said:
Hi ferFAL have you got a prototype and a patent ? .If not mite be a good way to start .
Click to expand...

Bad Ninja said:
In business, you need to protect yourself and not "trust a company to not screw you over".

Get a design patent, prototype (doesn't have to be steel), and a lawyer.
Bringing a design to production will cost money.
Be prepared to spend some.
You'll also need a cost/profit analysis to present with your pitch.
Remember you are basically trying to sell your idea, and will need to show that it's profitable for the company to invest in your idea.
"If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense"
Click to expand...

ok, thanks guys. Yes, got a prototype. Anyone knows someone that can help with the patent? any idea how much it costs?
Thanks
 
You do what you think is best but even if you have a design that is novel enough to warrant issuing a patent, you'll be a month of Sunday's getting it and it will cost several thousands of dollars. Also, it will only be enforceable on goods made or sold in the USA. Foreign entities such as China will be free to clone it at will provided they don't sell the product in the USA and even then it is extremely difficult to enforce.

I've never submitted a knife but I've observed the process of others going through it and from what I've seen, the reputable companies are not inclined to steal your IP, decline your approach, and then market it themselves. That would lead to some seriously bad PR quickly and likely prevent many folks from approaching them.

Again, this is just food for thought and you need to do your own research and choose what is best for you.
 
Nolo Press writes a series of easy to use books on how to get a patent. www.nolo.com. They tell you how to get a patent and have the Patent Office help you write the application. I have used them. Suggest you do a patent search first, though, because you may find, as I did, that all my ideas had already been patented. Good luck.
 
It might be worth it to trademark your idea if you have something novel. It doesn't have to be patent-worthy, just different enough to be noticeable. Patents run out, trademarks don't. I think the patent ran out on a couple of neat knife innovations, making them fair game for others. But the Spydie Hole is forever as long as Mr. Glesser continues to defend his brand in court.
 
If you don't patent in China etc, they will surely steal your design if it's popular.
Then you have to go after those who do steal it even if you have an international patent, trademark or copyright.

Its also expensive and time consuming.

If crkt ends up making it, you will be getting it poorly made. So people like me will avoid it. But you will likely get alot of budget minded sales, assuming it's popular.

Contact g & g hawk. They patent alot of knife mechanics by themselves. They used to have an interview on the now defunct and gone modern Neanderthal podcast. Where they talked about the process and issues they ran into.
 
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Thanks guys. I'm certain its a pretty neat concept. Maybe I should just have someone local make a few and sell them myself. If anyone feels like stealing the idea so be it. I doubt Atwood patents all his designs (maybe he does, does he?) but people simply choose to buy from him.

Eli Chaps said:
You do what you think is best but even if you have a design that is novel enough to warrant issuing a patent, you'll be a month of Sunday's getting it and it will cost several thousands of dollars. Also, it will only be enforceable on goods made or sold in the USA. Foreign entities such as China will be free to clone it at will provided they don't sell the product in the USA and even then it is extremely difficult to enforce.

I've never submitted a knife but I've observed the process of others going through it and from what I've seen, the reputable companies are not inclined to steal your IP, decline your approach, and then market it themselves. That would lead to some seriously bad PR quickly and likely prevent many folks from approaching them.

Again, this is just food for thought and you need to do your own research and choose what is best for you.
Click to expand...
Thanks, yes, that makes a lot of sense.
 
1 additional point: be aware before you try to patent it, a shape alone CANNOT be patented
 
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