patent idea.. can i patent things like this? Video Added! Secrets out! :)

[Train]

This looks similar

http://www.meritline.com/dorcy-led-rechargeable-cyber-work-light-41-4225---p-67748.aspx

 

[lxskllr]

yeah, im looking for self-stick mylar. i figure that, then maybe a strip of gaffers tape on top to prevent scratching. it definitely needs a reflector, if you look at it you cant see anything else for a few seconds.

Instead of blacking out a portion, how about a rotating shield. The real PITA with drop lights is they're hard to get the shield positioned right, at least with the cheap ones. A rotating shield would be more flexible, and could be removed altogether.

 

[wirednuts]

This looks similar

http://www.meritline.com/dorcy-led-rechargeable-cyber-work-light-41-4225---p-67748.aspx

400 lumens is pretty low. not sure how much mine is, but even if the lumens were similar what do you do when that hardly useable hook breaks? because it will, and even before it does where are you going to hook it? under a car, most places to hook require a small wire to fit in. those big plastic hooks are just terrible.


and what happens when you drop it over and over? what happens when the cheap circuitry inside burns out? is that clear sheild shatterproof like mine is? and look at the price. i am planning on selling mine for $40.

and, when that light breaks, where do you send it to get fixed? can it even be fixed? mine are completely serviceable... i could put a 5 year warranty on mine if i wanted to...

 

[wirednuts]

Instead of blacking out a portion, how about a rotating shield. The real PITA with drop lights is they're hard to get the shield positioned right, at least with the cheap ones. A rotating shield would be more flexible, and could be removed altogether.

i completely understand that. i guess a rotatable sheild would be possible- i could cut a groove into each pvc cap.

that was part of the reason to use a coat hanger though. just hook, then twist. the wire will bend to where you need it. and, of course, that hook will break eventually. because they all do. so i designed it to be fixed- just grab a coat hanger and make a new hook takes less then 5 minutes and youre back in the game.

 

[phucheneh]

how is it not? i know there are shop lights out there, thats not the point. this is a highly innovative design, because it uses easily acquireable parts and it outperforms anything on the market- in strength, light output and value.

this is one of the few ideas ive had that could actually be mass produced in a garage. theres only 4 holes to drill, but theyre only 2 different sizes. if i set up 2 drill presses and just drilled dozens of pipes out, i would be halfway home right there. at that point, just slap the piece together. it was incredibly easy to make honestly... it has me excited just thinking about producing a batch of them.

The problem is that 'I can produce it in my garage' isn't patentable. Go try and 'patent' the kit car, kit plane. You could perhaps do something with copyright/trademark stuff if you've got a unique item like a car (assuming you designed the aesthetics, i.e. not just a '32 Ford' kit or something). But it's definitely not for the patent office unless your car has something novel and new, which would probably be an item you'd patent on its own, anyhow.

But your idea is altogether similar to a 'kit car,' though obviously much simpler. The 'simpler' part doesn't help your case.

All your parts are already out there, and they're not assembled in a novel way to to perform a unique purpose. I mean, yeah, you can patent something that performs a task 'better' that something else, but it needs to have a major design tweak. 110v inverter, standard LED array, circular plastic housing. It's kinda out there. 'I used the same components as others, but I used more voltage and more LED's' or some such is not enough to get a patent.

And fluorescent really does work better in a work light. LED's work better for flashlights. If you're gonna sell plans or kits or just make the things yourself, I would look into a fluorescent design. Yes, it has one 'less durable' part, but large amounts of LED's are certainly not immune to failure; and their failure cannot be rectified with a cheap bulb replacement. Unfortunately, there are already a lot of lights out there for pretty cheap. The 30w with the hood clamps (can also be used around the door openings; awesome for pulling dashboards and stuff) is pretty fuckin' boss and not too expensive ($100, tops, as low at 60-70 online). I keep one of these in my car with a drop cord and a small cigarette lighter inverter.

Your LED's need to be using a solid 5w+ to be comparable to a ~15w CFL. You're not touching a 30w.

 

[Heller]

excuse my ignorance as im pretty stoned, but wtf is the thing and what does it do?

 

[Train]

400 lumens is pretty low. not sure how much mine is, but even if the lumens were similar what do you do when that hardly useable hook breaks? because it will, and even before it does where are you going to hook it? under a car, most places to hook require a small wire to fit in. those big plastic hooks are just terrible.


and what happens when you drop it over and over? what happens when the cheap circuitry inside burns out? is that clear sheild shatterproof like mine is? and look at the price. i am planning on selling mine for $40.

and, when that light breaks, where do you send it to get fixed? can it even be fixed? mine are completely serviceable... i could put a 5 year warranty on mine if i wanted to...

That's great, but none of that is patentable.

 

[wirednuts]

sounds good, guys. i wasnt sure if this was something i could patent or not... thats why i posted! i really didnt think it was.

flourescent is out of the question. my dad paid $250 for the best cfl worklight on the market about a year ago. it lasted about 3 months. he was so pissed...

excuse my ignorance as im pretty stoned, but wtf is the thing and what does it do?

its a work light. it runs off your cig lighter socket in your car, and im making a 120v version as well.

whats special? it outperforms any other work light ive known, in almost every way. weight is probably the only drawback, but its not too heavy by any means. it just feels solid as hell! its built so strong, i just dont even see HOW it would break. im going to take this to a parking lot sometime and throw it as high as i can, then plug it in to prove it

 

[phucheneh]

sounds good, guys. i wasnt sure if this was something i could patent or not... thats why i posted! i really didnt think it was.

flourescent is out of the question. my dad paid $250 for the best cfl worklight on the market about a year ago. it lasted about 3 months. he was so pissed...




its a work light. it runs off your cig lighter socket in your car, and im making a 120v version as well.

whats special? it outperforms any other work light ive known, in almost every way. weight is probably the only drawback, but its not too heavy by any means. it just feels solid as hell!

Your dad is a sillynanny. I linked to a light that was $22. I mentioned that good 3ft tube lights are in the $50-100 range. I've had both my lights for quite awhile. The craftsman is quite old and has never had a bulb. The generic-china-brand underhood lamp had a couple bulbs because of 'accidents.' Like slamming across fenders when some hood struts fail. Light works fine, the bulb just gets sacrificed (inside a sealed plastic housing, to avoid cutting you with mercury-tained glass or whatever).

Weight is a big no-no if the device is not designed to be mounted solidly. This seems more like the type of thing you (obviously) hang off random parts, or just set next to something. The weight may make it feel solid, but parts inside are being subjected to greater forces when it falls. As would your head.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Speaking of lights, one thing I've always wanted to get or make is a lantern that is ultra bright and low power usage. Same idea, but something that is easy to just set on a table. Great for power outages. you can just carry it around and set it down somewhere. Could use the same type of LEDs in phone flashes, those are insanely bright. Put like 20 of those together and you would exceed a 100w light bulb. Would definitely need some kind of diffuser though or it would be too hard on the eyes.

 

[phucheneh]

Speaking of lights, one thing I've always wanted to get or make is a lantern that is ultra bright and low power usage. Same idea, but something that is easy to just set on a table. Great for power outages. you can just carry it around and set it down somewhere. Could use the same type of LEDs in phone flashes, those are insanely bright. Put like 20 of those together and you would exceed a 100w light bulb. Would definitely need some kind of diffuser though or it would be too hard on the eyes.

It's hard to get something bright that doesn't hurt your eyes and cast shadows. It might not be patentable, but that's what I would use to set a device apart. I've seen all kinds of battery-powered LED lamp/lantern designs, and they all suck equally at not being directional and not being painful to look at. Hell, in a power outage, I'd ideally want to keep my night vision...a couple of watts worth of cheap LED's properly scattered would be plenty, and a decent battery would last forever.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It's hard to get something bright that doesn't hurt your eyes and cast shadows. It might not be patentable, but that's what I would use to set a device apart. I've seen all kinds of battery-powered LED lamp/lantern designs, and they all suck equally at not being directional and not being painful to look at. Hell, in a power outage, I'd ideally want to keep my night vision...a couple of watts worth of cheap LED's properly scattered would be plenty, and a decent battery would last forever.

I saw the coolest thing, think it was on reddit. It was this light that was basically a bunch of glass/plastic balls in a base, I think it was shaped into a tree, I can't remember. Basically the base plugs into the wall. Each ball can be removed and used anywhere as portable light. that could probably work nicely in an outage. They were not very bright, but when it's pitch black, probably bright enough to at least see where you're going.

 

[wirednuts]

Speaking of lights, one thing I've always wanted to get or make is a lantern that is ultra bright and low power usage. Same idea, but something that is easy to just set on a table. Great for power outages. you can just carry it around and set it down somewhere. Could use the same type of LEDs in phone flashes, those are insanely bright. Put like 20 of those together and you would exceed a 100w light bulb. Would definitely need some kind of diffuser though or it would be too hard on the eyes.

dont worry, ill have a solution soon. i have thought the EXACT same thing. a good led lithium powered lantern- they just dont exist. at least not for an affordable price.

my idea for that though, was basically, just to take a good existing lantern and adding batteries and upgrading the led module.

 

[wirednuts]

Your dad is a sillynanny. I linked to a light that was $22. I mentioned that good 3ft tube lights are in the $50-100 range. I've had both my lights for quite awhile. The craftsman is quite old and has never had a bulb. The generic-china-brand underhood lamp had a couple bulbs because of 'accidents.' Like slamming across fenders when some hood struts fail. Light works fine, the bulb just gets sacrificed (inside a sealed plastic housing, to avoid cutting you with mercury-tained glass or whatever).

Weight is a big no-no if the device is not designed to be mounted solidly. This seems more like the type of thing you (obviously) hang off random parts, or just set next to something. The weight may make it feel solid, but parts inside are being subjected to greater forces when it falls. As would your head.

ok, you just admitted yours breaks. so its not $22 anymore.

and its not so heavy that it will hurt you. i just weighed it- 1 pound 6 oz

this was designed to work under cars. hang it anywhere- thats what mechanics do with existing lights now. making it magnet mount would be silly for that purpose- you want a solid place to hook it on so it doesnt fall if you bump it.

 

[wirednuts]

update! did a 30min test run in my truck- because thats the only place i can get full amperage! i havent directly tested the wattage yet, but its at least 2a (going by the adapters ive been using)

thing is, the metal core got hot! im not sure if it was because i dont have a current limit on it, or if its just too many high power led's. because of this finding, i dont think ill add a cap to the top. the way it is now, its like a heatpipe that vents out the top.

but whats cool is the whole thing is plasic on the outside- so for normal use it should work just fine. the only place it feels too hot is right on the top where the threads are. i can hold my hand on it, but it feels just at that point where its too hot.

so... i MIGHT add a resistor to it even though i shouldnt need to, if i just limited the current a little bit it would likely stay much cooler. i have a feeling its dumping more juice into heat then it is light right now...

 

[phucheneh]

ok, you just admitted yours breaks. so its not $22 anymore.

and its not so heavy that it will hurt you. i just weighed it- 1 pound 6 oz

this was designed to work under cars. hang it anywhere- thats what mechanics do with existing lights now. making it magnet mount would be silly for that purpose- you want a solid place to hook it on so it doesnt fall if you bump it.

I said the bigger one has broken bulbs. ~$10 T8 bulbs. Cheaper than throwing away a broken LED light. They'd be more like $5 if they came in a pack, but 3ft bulbs, while available, and limited in choice. The Home Depot by me only sells singles. Anyhow, the small light is at least five years old, often-used, and has never needed anything replaced.

works good, cheap > false sense of 'infinitely durable'

I'll go outside when it's dark and take some pics to illustrate the definition of 'works good.'

 

[edro]

You can patent any of your ideas separately or combined.

1. Shop light with replaceable hook
2. Shop light with durable, shock proof lens
3. Shop light assembly composed of easily serviceable and replaceable components

The problem is, all of those have probably already been patented or used before (known as "prior art").

You would need to patent all of them combined into a shop light with replaceable thin hook, durable flexible lens, composed of easily obtainable replacement components. You would then need to call out those components and explain why you think it is unique.

Pay a lawyer a couple thousand dollars to write up the patent application, then wait a few years for a response from the patent office. If they deny it, you are out money and time.

There are tons of devices sold that are not patented.
The hard part is sales, manufacturing and distribution.

 

[wirednuts]

I said the bigger one has broken bulbs. ~$10 T8 bulbs. Cheaper than throwing away a broken LED light. They'd be more like $5 if they came in a pack, but 3ft bulbs, while available, and limited in choice. The Home Depot by me only sells singles. Anyhow, the small light is at least five years old, often-used, and has never needed anything replaced.

works good, cheap > false sense of 'infinitely durable'

I'll go outside when it's dark and take some pics to illustrate the definition of 'works good.'

ill stress it again- my intentions for this are to work for years in a mechanic shop. basically, extreme conditions. i mentioned the $250 cfl worklight because they claimed it was durable. it wasnt after dad's shop hands got ahold of it!

and my led's can be replaced in sets of 3. so basically, thats like 50 cents per segment. its not user-replaceable in that reguard though.. but it should be a moot point because the bulbs should never have to be replaced. well it should run 30,000+ hours anyway... thats around 15 years on 8 hours days...

 

[wirednuts]

You can patent any of your ideas separately or combined.

1. Shop light with replaceable hook
2. Shop light with durable, shock proof lens
3. Shop light assembly composed of easily serviceable and replaceable components

The problem is, all of those have probably already been patented or used before (known as "prior art").

You would need to patent all of them combined into a shop light with replaceable thin hook, durable flexible lens, composed of easily obtainable replacement components. You would then need to call out those components and explain why you think it is unique.

Pay a lawyer a couple thousand dollars to write up the patent application, then wait a few years for a response from the patent office. If they deny it, you are out money and time.

There are tons of devices sold that are not patented.
The hard part is sales, manufacturing and distribution.

thank you. i dont think ill pursue a patent on it, i simply dont have the money, but making and selling them should definitely be possible. this is what ive done my whole life- i make odd things and sell them. one of these days ill think of something that should be patented!

i just saw on tv a woman who took a fold out chair- you know those kind that are popular these days, and she put a foil lining in it to keep your butt warm. shes making and selling them from her basement! i didnt hear if she got a patent on it, but she was on national tv for it...

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

No. It gets you nothing without eventually getting a patent stemming from the application.

In more detail, if you never get an actual patent, your patent pending marking and application are worthless. If you do get a patent from the application, then and only then do you have something of value.

We are not talking about value in a patent, we are talking about short run protection ala "Beware of Dog."

 

[John Connor]

I'm sure development on those started as soon as GPS became reliable. It takes time to bring a weapons system to the field.

Yeah, but I was only fucking 9 years old give me a break!

 

[BoomerD]

Since the video in the OP doesn't show it plugged in and lit up...should we presume that it doesn't work?

 

[Pray To Jesus]

OK screw it. here it is! you take my idea and patent it i WILL hunt you down


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuJof...ature=youtu.be

really, the best part is the hook. its EASILY replaceable. just a coat hanger strung through a hole in the top, and secured by the lock ring. most shop lights, when the hook breaks the whole thing is basically useless.

ill get better video up soon, with a breakdown and some actual light action. it wouldnt look like much right now being sunny and all... and sorry about the blurriness. lens was dirty.

So- parts list-

8"x1/2" gas pipe in the core, prethreaded ($2)
2 one inch pvc end caps with holes drilled in each ($1)
~5" of reinforced PVC flexible tubing ($1.50)
3ft LED light strip off ebay 3630 labled ($10)
Rigid 1/2" coupler ($.50) you cant see it, its under the black grip tape
1/2" Wire strain relief at the bottom ($1)
12ft belden cable with 12v adapter at the end ($free99 )
Coat hanger for hook, and the locknut came with the strain relief at the bottom.

all i need to add is a mylar sheild for eye protection!

Heheh I might patent something like it for fun.

 

[DrPizza]

Ahh, I see the link to an array of LEDs that are powered by a 12V plug in. (I want one.) Thus, your invention already exists. For what it's worth, I don't think I can count the number of friends' garages I've been in to help them with projects, and their hanging light was held up by a bent coat hanger because the original plastic hook was broken. I can tell you that mine is. But, mine is 120V, not 12V. And, my light is a regular bulb (well, CFL) - because I don't like those longer fluorescent tubes.


So, in light of seeing the design from China linked to above, here's an idea for you: have you ever seen those things for hanging stuff which are little more than a fairly sturdy flexible rod encased in a rubber coating? Why not make a shop light that doesn't even have a hanger at all - that's flexible & can be bent into any shape. That way, you can twist it around whatever you want under the car.

 

[wirednuts]

Ahh, I see the link to an array of LEDs that are powered by a 12V plug in. (I want one.) Thus, your invention already exists. For what it's worth, I don't think I can count the number of friends' garages I've been in to help them with projects, and their hanging light was held up by a bent coat hanger because the original plastic hook was broken. I can tell you that mine is. But, mine is 120V, not 12V. And, my light is a regular bulb (well, CFL) - because I don't like those longer fluorescent tubes.


So, in light of seeing the design from China linked to above, here's an idea for you: have you ever seen those things for hanging stuff which are little more than a fairly sturdy flexible rod encased in a rubber coating? Why not make a shop light that doesn't even have a hanger at all - that's flexible & can be bent into any shape. That way, you can twist it around whatever you want under the car.

there has to be a hook for its intended purpose. when youre under a car, you need to hang the light somehwere.

everyone i show this to wants one. i could make some decent money off these it looks like. im getting a place with a garage in may, and by then i should have more parts in (led lights). i think ill build a couple dozen of these...