Suggestions on maker collaboration?

L

Lavan

Joined
Nov 8, 2000
Messages
2,301
Since retiring, I now have about THREE completely unique knife...IDEAS....

By "unique" I mean NO manufacturer is offering anything even REMOTELY comparable.

I have no mechanical aptitude nor the youth to acquire any.

Do any of you have any suggestions as to which VOLUME manufacturer (it looks THAT good) would cooperate in making a prototype with the object of patenting and manufacture on a royalty basis or any type of cooperative marketing?

I can pay for work. I would like to know whom to TRUST to actually carry this through with all the non-disclosure agreements and a good honest approach to sharing revenue proportionate to contribution from the sales.

I am talking NEW design (and APPLICATIONS) and not just different shapes or materials.

I am aware of the slow market but think these features would be desirable to the market as completely new approaches.


Any info appreciated.

Could be a pipedream, but would sure like to find out.
 
If you're talking about a mechanism (folder type) the best bet is to get it trademarked.
 
One is an application that has not been done

and the other is a design feature for (primarily) fixed blade

Other is just a dead simple addition to existing knives.
 
As mentioned, after protecting your ideas contact the big knife companies and show them your ideas...there are some great companies that hang out in this forum, many even have their own forum on this site! Once protected I would post my ideas on these forums and get everyones opinions, after all we are the market. If you get a positive response here you will have a basis to seek mass production.

Hard to believe there is anything so new that there is nothing even close to your ideas, would not be too disapointed if your idea is in someone's bottom drawer filed under "did not make it", but you'll never know unless you try.

As far as someone you can trust with your idea I would think you would have to ask yourself, would I hand a million dollars to a stranger? If your ideas are really that fantastic that someone would put them into production I for one would be very careful who I trusted...that said the good folks at Spyderco, along with others, frequent the forum and have proven to be very trustworthy.

Good luck and let us know how it works out!
 
That's why I want to PAY someone to make it and PAY for the patenting or trade/service mark and then either BUY the run or participate in the venture.

My reason for wanting to do it with a major is that the economy of scale is not as important to me in the manufacture as it is in the ADVERTISING. The things are just so damn simple that even I am amazed that no one has done anything like it. Like the first double edge knife. I wonder how long Ogg carried his one edged flint until Murg knapped BOTH sides. Simple but still took another step.

I don't want em to do anything for free but I don't have the talent to make the things.
 
Well I know that Gerber only works with people who have patented designs. They wont even look at your stuff without a patent. Might be the same way with other manufacturers.
 
Well, I'm not a large knife Co. but I am a talanted full-time knifemaker, I could prototype it with you. Besides, my wife says if I don't start making and selling more knives I'm gonna have to go get a real job. :rolleyes: :D LOL. Serious, shoot me an email, we'll talk.
 
I followed the link in the Spyderco forum to this thread.
Sal gave Lavan some good advice.

Gene Osborn of Center Cross Metalworks has done a prototype for me, and I have examined several of his knives in my own hands.
Gene does good work and he puts his whole mind and heart into it.
He specializes in turning ideas into metal, and I'd trust him with my kids.

Check him out.
 
So I assume that when you say that no one has come up with this idea in the past that you have done a complete patent search? If not, do one. Just because you have never seen a design like yours does not mean that someone doesn't have a patent on that same design.

Sal asked some very good questions. Do you want to patent this yourself and own the patent? If so, the cost to do this will be $5000.00 or higher, possibly much higher, and this will be for a US patent only. World-wide patents would cost many times more than that. It is almost a certainty that you will not find a company that will pay for the patent but allow you to retain ownership. That just doesn't make very good business sense. So your other option is to sell the idea to a manufacturer and they will patent it and own the patent.

There are a couple of things to think about if you are planning to get a patent and own that patent yourself. First, if someone infringes on your patent, do you have the necessary funds to defend your patent in court? The costs to do this can be huge. Second, there are countries (China for one) that do not recognize patents. If it is a good idea, manufacturers in these countries will copy it and sell it all over the world. They do this with the knowledge that most people that own patents will not have the finances to stop them.

If you do not have the money to patent your idea, to defend your patent in court or to manufacturer the knives yourself, then it would probably be best to get a working model of your knife made and to present it to a company like Spyderco and see if they want to purchase it. Before doing this, make sure you have drawings of what it is that you would be patenting. Also, take photos of the knife broken down to show the part that would be patented. Take these drawings and photos to a Notary Public and have them notarized. This will afford you copyright protection. I am not saying that companies like Spyderco would ever think of stealing a design, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
 
Lavan,

Protect yourself. Get a patent, or a trademark. I have a patent pending on a shoe clip, and my Dad held several in the security field.

Business is business.
 
Get a Patent, trademark etc. Protect your design. Next prototype it. Since you aren't well known in the knife community, shop your idea to some of the well respected knife-makers out there. An alliance with a well known name will help you get in with one of the big companies. Be prepared with marketing data (competing knife models- their price point and manufacter base. How many of your knives will sell etc.) If you know those answers and can back them up, it will be an easier sell for you. Be patient and make sure you have a lawyer.

Good Luck!

Josh
 
Thank you all for suggestions. I am (right after this post) contacting the above 3 makers who have offered services or been referred.
My problem is the actual LACK of involvement that I want.

I want two bucks per knife SOLD and do not wish to own the patent. When I was in business prior to retirement, I had done one national service mark and several business "names" (which are NO big deal) The service mark was costly and a new area for me. Also did a LLC and a corporation so know the value of legal advice.

On the marketing data, I would have absolutely NO data as two of my ideas have NOT ever been used in a knife application.

But, I still think they are good.

For example: (grab a beverage and batten down for a story) In 1971, I mentioned to a buddy (whom I can no longer refer to as have no idea where he is) how ...."wouldn't it be neat if someone made a sealed cardboard box with film in it and a plastic lens that you could use for a crummy emergency camera"

welll.......shudda ....wudda....cudda....

AND.........to make you KNOW how stupid I am...........

In 1979, when I was making a literal fortune buying and selling gold and silver when it was $800 and $50, the poor guy next door in a failing stereo shop came over to show me one of the new MOVIES ON TAPE that you could buy for only $50-75 at places like Federated Stores (now defunct) and how neat they were as you could play them at home on your Betamax.

"Hmmmmmm", sez me, "seems like them things would be a good thing to .......RENT OUT."

He still tells me how much he regrets NOT being the first guy in town to follow up on THAT one. (And.....I offered to finance it for him)

So.......I do get some good ones. These 2 knife thingies actually ARE "not done before" things.

Now, I'm gonna hit those 3 guys with a couple emails and PM's and will keep you posted.

5-4-3-2-----?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top