New lock design

Shing

Shing

Joined
Feb 2, 2003
Messages
2,261
I've designed a folder lock that I'm sure is orginal and would like to get some manufacturers' attention. Can anyone tell me what is the best way to get a manufacturer interested and make some money. I don't have the resources or the inclination to try to patent it myself and have to defend it if necessary.
 
Just put your new lock into production. Just like BM did their Axislock. Then, other companies will try to copy it. Just like SOG and Cold Steel did. This is what I believe is the best way to get the other manufacturers' attention for your new lock. Good luck! :D
 
Shing, the only way a manufacturer would pay you a licensing fee for the design is if you have a patent for it. If you don't have a patent, the design will never legally be "yours" and any manufacturer can market the design without paying you a cent.

A patent search is also necessary to be sure your design hasn't already been filed by another party in the patent office. Alexander Bell's patent for the telephone, for example, was filed only two hours before a competitor filed a similar design. That patent is why the telephone company has been named "Bell" all these years.
 
Patent, exactly. And get a top-notch patent attorney and engineer to work with you on it. A patent is only valuable if manufacturers have to license it. If the patent is poorly written, manufacturers can easily make a small tweak to the design and end up side-stepping your patent. But, if a patent is to broad or if it steps into prior art, then the court may throw it out. It's literally all in how you word it. So, get an expert.
 
Shing is posting from the UK and a USA patent will not be feasible/possible without a USA manufacturer.

At best, you might be able to sell the design to a knife company....

If you're really sold on this being the next "big thing" look around for a well-known custom knifemaker who has done collaborations and see if you can convince them to take on the idea. You'll get some credit for it and you can use their pull in the knife community to get the lock idea "out of obscurity"....


Then, just wait about 6 months for chinese knockoffs to start showing up....:rolleyes:
 
another note on patents:

Intellectual property (designs, etc.) are easier to get patents for, but harder to defend.

Actual production pieces require submitting drawings, a sample, paying at least $1000 just for the process, and waiting a few months to hear back (while they search).
 
Thanks for all the info guys, like pendentive says being based in the UK makes things even more difficult. Another forum member who has got his invention into production has also given me lots of good advice from his own experience so thats great.
 
Well, when your idea is famous, please come back and reply to this thread and let us know how you did it.

Best of luck with your lil' project, Shing!
 
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