Knife designing process

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brainbiter

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Mar 29, 2006
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I'm not sure if this is the right place for this but here goes.

I've got a design for a knife resembling a rescue hook.
I was hoping for any info regarding the patent process, getting mock ups done, and the final making and finishing of the piece, marketing and that kind of stuff.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 
well i don't know much about the patent or anything, but when looking to have it produced i would suggest taking a cardboard or styrofoam board model of the device.

maybe even have a window or other sort of shop cut it out of hard plastic (plexiglass, ABS, etc) for you. it probably won't cost too much...

if you don't intend to market it to companies, then you should figure out how to make one from steel and be able to do it regularly and efficiently so as not to drive the price up too high.

i would also talk to the sort of people that would be carrying this sort of tool, and find out if there is even any demand for such a product. if there is none, perhaps you could redisign with thier collective ideas in mind...almost everyone wishes they could make one or two things different on thier favorite peice of gear.

look around on google for patent info...try to find the official webpage. they will probably send you some free information.

hope this helps.
 
Trouble is that a knife isnt a pantentable thing in and of itself. A lock type, or AO system is, but not a knife by itself. If the shape and function are different enough from anything out there you MAY be able to patent it. I worked in clothing and we came out with a very inovative pocket design, we were not able to get it patented because at the end of the day it was a pocket. Now Nike is trying to patent our pocket idea. Time to see if more money can get the job done then claim grandfather rights. :D Wether you can get a patent or not be prepared to spend some money. As far as having a working model made go to the knifemakers section and there are plenty of guys who will do cutom work for you.
 
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If you want to deal with production companies you will want to come up with a non disclosure agreement. Most production companies will have their own, but if you deal with anyone on prototypes or technical drawings, it will be helpful. The idea is probably not patentable, but there are other ways of protecting an idea.
This is a pretty tough gig to get into. A company isn't going to be all that interested in putting your name on something unless they think your name will help sell the product. A custom knifemaker whose work is in high demand stands a better chance than a novice for example. A really great design will sell itself, but with so many choices on the market its a big gamble to put anything untested into mass production.
 
I don't know what you have in mind, or how unusual it actually is, but whatever you do, you should have a real, working model in hand (in steel, preferably) before investing in the expense of patents and so forth.

It's amazing how things that seem so simple as an idea, or on paper turn into a maze of complications and functional hang-ups when you actually have on in hand.
You should probably visit the US Patent Office site and do some preliminary searching to see if anything like it exists. Though such a search will most likely NOT bring up everything that is relevant, it's a good place to start and it's free.
 
brainbiter said:
I'm not sure if this is the right place for this but here goes.

I've got a design for a knife resembling a rescue hook.
I was hoping for any info regarding the patent process, getting mock ups done, and the final making and finishing of the piece, marketing and that kind of stuff.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Well i can give some tips. The first will only offer you some very limited protection for your design. Mail a copy of the design to your self via registered mail. Next get your self a copyright/trademark attorney. dont use these inventech etc type services youll more than likly have any good idea stolen outright. Once you have a copyright and are looking for some one to sell the design to start contacting the various knife companies. Columbia river knife and tool are very responsive to the new designer.
Another nice thing about them is they tend to really get your name out there. Take a look at their site and catalog and youll see this latest design by some name here on nearly all their knives.

Im getting ready to buy a blade blank from gene martin and will be designing a special sheath that will let me leave my knife on my old canondale 10 speed when i need to go in some place where knives are prohibited. The sheath will lock to the frame and keep the knife safe. Guess who ill be contacting first when i get the design done ? Yep CRKT.

Now when looking for other companies to sell the idea to just email them call them tell them what you got in very basic but discriptive terms. Dont be afraid to send them some basic drawings that dont show much more than the basic blade profile. It will be enough for them to know if they want more information or not.

Again stay away from things like 1800 invent or inventech or any of those types of people they will rip you off. These free inventors kits you see are all BS.
 
Thanks everyone you've been extremely helpfull.
I'm in the process of getting a working model made.
 
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