Inventions -- I've Learned My Lesson!

[sueluvshalloween]

A while back, I came up with an idea for an invention. A lot of inventions come to be because of people just trying to accomplish everyday tasks and they think "Hmmm, if only there was something that did this, it would make things a lot easier." My idea was something for cat owners. It's such a hassle trying to clip my cat's claws and it gets expensive having the vet or a groomer do the job. There are various cat scratching mats on the market, but none that will actually file the nails down. I searched everywhere for this type of product, but found nothing. So I thought this would be a great idea for an invention. But then I thought it would be too much trouble to try to get the process going or I'd have to invest a ton of cash for something that might fail. This morning, while channel surfing, I couldn't believe what I saw -- a commercial for a cat scratching device that actually files the nails down in the process, called Cat Emery! I almost fell out of bed! If only I'd pursued my idea, I could've been making some money right now! I've learned my lesson that if I ever have an idea again, I'm going to try to get it invented!

[Belladonna]

Absolutely, you just never know! It could be something people would really love, and you make a gazillion bucks!
That happened to a friend of mine - I don't remember what the invention idea was that he had, but if he had pursued it, he would have never had to worry about a thing financially.

[Spookymufu]

A while back......(snip)......called Cat Emery! I almost fell out of bed! If only I'd pursued my idea, I could've been making some money right now! I've learned my lesson that if I ever have an idea again, I'm going to try to get it invented!

if it makes you feel any better, I was going to buy this scratching mat but it is getting horrible reviews and people are saying the company selling it are scamming customers....

the same thing happened to me, when my son was a baby (13yrs ago) I had an idea for a mirror that attached to the rear window. The idea was you could look in the rear-view mirror and into the other mirror and see you baby in the car seat so when the baby screamed while driving you could see if the baby was hurt or just fussing with out taking your eyes off the road (remember, baby seats face backwards so you cant see directly into them when driving). About a year after I contacted an invention company I saw my idea in Toys R Us. I couldnt afford the start up fees so I gave up on it, but it looked like someone else used it and went forward with it.

[NeverMore]

.
I've been through this. I always have novel ideas and have pursued a few of them.
Trying to get them patented. Unless you have a revolutionary new product it can be a
long, involved process. And there are always challenges. Look at what Apple is going
through with the iPhone. Everyday someone takes them to court for infringing on their
patents.

I spent years pursuing a patent on one of my ideas just to get turned down at the last
minute because it was too close to another product currently in existence. I still wonder
if I slipped up and told someone about my idea and they rushed it to patent.

One of the ideas I've had in the past include a little chip that you attach to a device...
keys, remote control, whatever... that, if you lose it, you call it with your cellphone and it
sets off a beeping noise. I didn't pursue it because a friend at Qualcomm told me they
were already working on that in Japan. Now you can buy locator devices that you use
with your GPS.

Another idea I had was attaching cell phone base stations to tethered balloons in
remote areas for better reception. This is being tested currently.

One of these days, one of my ideas are gonna pan out and I'll be rich! Rich! I say! Ha! Ha!

[adrian]

i had this one idea a while back but i never persued it..... PayPal lol jk

[Midnite Shadow]

Back in the 70's my dad and I joked they should install in cars little cameras and TV monitors so you can see what you are backing up into...