1. Celebrate patenting easier
For almost A hundred years, the west has seemingly indoctrinated us in TV, books and films to believe that we must patent our ideas immediately, lest they fall for the wayside or why not be stolen. This is an expensive and complex process to require a rough idea and grow a patent, which means you wouldn't want to enter that $10,000-plus arena without being prepared, right?
Just before 1880 you truly needed a prototype built before it could be patented. While it isn't required now, a prototype is a great approach to show that you built it first. Also, building your idea eliminates the advantages and has that won't have already been immediately evident in the rough idea stage. Now, it is possible to patent that too, which might offer the best protection over time.
Particles building a prototype will greatly direct you towards writing, drawing and preparing your patent papers, which can help you save a lot of cash.
2. Smooth out your invention's design
When you make your idea in to a prototype, now you can actually test drive it in person situations and appearance out for design or concept flaws. Some may wish to drop the road of building a "virtual prototype." Now, there are a lot of advantages to using a designer develop a 3D rendition of one's product -- you can easily present it to potential customers, you can obtain a low-cost concept of the actual way it can look when it's built and you may determine visual features of the merchandise -- however, a "virtual prototype" cannot be tested in real life. Remember, real life and also the virtual world are totally various and 3D drawings don't account for everything.
Additionally, a great time and energy to workout the aesthetics of a product, creating it for the best user. For instance, you would like to ensure its size isn't too large or threatening, if the user will be a child. Alternately you want so that it is durable enough when the user is really a mechanic.
Again, most of these tweaks etc will allow you to out when patenting, as you know what to draw up and what the benefits are of these features, which didn't exist when it was in its conceptual phase.
3. Prototypes determine the manufacturing process
Eventually, whether it's you or the person you manage to sell the idea to, someone is going to have to manufacture your invention. Prototyping helps you know what manufacturing processes will probably be required. Might it be injection molded, ultrasonically welded or die stamped?
Maybe you even need to determine a new manufacturing technique to make your invention, but you'd need to find out all this before a manufacturer or a corporation will get up to speed together with your project.
4. Determine the best price
The only way to truly have an understanding of what are the product will truly cost to fabricate is by prototyping it. Much like focusing on how it will be manufactured, you will know what are the materials to construct it will cost or otherwise what kinds of materials you'll use.
When prototyping, look at the price point you would like to meet. Obviously, this should sure enough have started in design, but later you could realize you have to build it at a lower cost. It is a good time to analyze the style and find ways it could be changed to meet an improved cost of manufacturing. And, since would certainly be doing this prior to deciding to patent, you'll save yourself by without having to file an amendment or perhaps a second patent.
5. It makes it simpler to license or sell
Using a prototype ready, you'll not simply be capable of explain exactly what the product or service benefits of the invention are, but in addition be capable of getting into the numbers to describe the expenses of manufacturing, the way it will probably be built, etc. This shows professionalism and companies respect it. For too much time, lots of well-meaning folks have submitted ideas as just paper drawings or hard-to-interpret patents, but having the prototype all set to go -- an added bonus when you have sample packaging -- means a lot.
Addititionally there is the enjoyment factor when presenting an actual, working prototype. Now, they've got something to talk about, look at and communicate with. This process gets marketing people going when considering the way to advertise and showcase it. In addition, it lets everyone handle it and find out for themselves the validity of your project. Demonstrations sell.
So, don't underestimate the power of prototyping your invention. Not only is it in the very heart of inventing, but it'll greatly help you over time.