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Things You Need to Get Started Author of the tutorial : TheLoneInventor Describes the essentials you will need to get started inventing! 1 Do I Need an Inventor's Notebook? 2 How to Obtain an Inventor's Notebook 3 The Inventor's Notebook 4 Inventor's Notebook Do's 5 Inventor's Notebook Don'ts 1 Do I Need an Inventor's Notebook? Am I the kind of inventor who needs one? Let's find out.Do I really need an Inventor's Notebook? Absolutely! You may say to yourself, "Well, I really only have one invention, one product, a few pieces of paper at best is all I need, right?" Wrong. We will soon discuss the importance of writing things down immediately, but right now we will discuss how an inventor's notebook is key in protecting your rights in court. 2 How to Obtain an Inventor's Notebook In times past, an inventor's notebook was very difficult to find indeed. These days, they are more accessible to the average inventor.Finding One! You can obtain an inventor's notbook at many locations online, and perhaps around town. The most important criteria above all however is that the pages are stitched in, and also numbered. Each page must have a page number, so make sure they are correct before you purchase it. Here's a very nice one for only $15 US bookfactory.com/inventors_notebooks The LoneInventor.Com will soon be offering a line of quality Inventor's Notebooks in various styles to accomidate various inventor's needs. We are getting them in bulk, so quite reasonable as well. Very good quality notebooks, and we hope to have those up here for you to see shortly. 3 The Inventor's Notebook This notebook is going to be your very good friend, let's get to know what it is a little better, and how to properly write entries into it.What is it? An inventor's notebook is quite simply a notebook. It can be any type of notebook that you wish, however if you wish to be able to use it later as legal protection, you will need a certain type of notebook. We will discuss that in a minute. Try to fing one that suits your personal style and needs. If it doesn't provide room for drawings, find one that does. Make sure that it suits you. 4 Inventor's Notebook Do's There are a few things that you must do in order to make your inventor's notebook as iron clad as it can be.Do~ Always sign and date your pages On each and every page, for each and every single entry, you must provide your name/signature and the date. This is a must! Do~ Always have your additions witnessed Regularly have your inventions witnessed by someone who isn't interested in stealing them from you, and who will sign a non-disclosure agreement. This person cannot be related to you in any way, in order for the witness to hold any weight in court. Do~ Record EVERYTHING that you have done on the invention If you ponder it at some point, write down your thoughts. If you change the design, write down the associated changes and thier effects. Write down the materials that you think it should be made out of, and list ALL possibilities.
Do~ Paste in reciepts, pictures or other pertinent material. Include dates, and signatures on the back of the reciept, picture, or other item, and then glue around the outer edge. Do not use paper clips. Do~ Think of every possibility If your device could be made of soft plastic, and you think it should be, write it like this: Do~ Use run-on sentences to describe those possibilities! Yes that's right, make your sentences as complete as possible. Write like a lawyer, make everything as clear as possible. When you consider all the possiblities and write them down very thouroughly, this gives your protection. Scope Do~ Write in pen, preferably black or blue, but always pen. Do not use pencil, or other more delible methods of recording your invention. Do~ Consult the web about your inventor's notebook. Don't count this as your only resource, ask around. Try these Links:
http://www.bookfactory.com/special_info/invent_notebook_guidelines.html
Do~ Consult you attorney about any questions you may have. 5 Inventor's Notebook Don'ts These are some things that you should definately avoid doing with, to, or at your inventor's notebook.Don't ~ Write in pencil Writing in pencil is a big no-no. Only pen will make sure your notebook holds up in court. Don't ~ Leave out names and dates Leaving out your name or the date off of a page can be devastating to the entire notebook. If you finish a page, and continue to the next with the same information, a name and date should still accompany them on the next page. Try adding a signature and a date as the header and footer of an entry. Don't ~ Forget to disclose any information Being vague doesn't help you or your inventions chances. You might worry about putting it in writing, but in reality, putting it in writing is your only legal right to it. Don't ~ Leave you Inventor's Notebook unguarded. For the very reason listed above, this means that ALL of your valuable intellectual property will be contained within this notebook. Pretend you are an international spy with a briefcase handcuffed to the wrist. Treat this notebook with the respect it deserves, and protect it. If you have a safe or a vault, this is the time to use it. Don't ~ Show it to just anyone Only disclose information to people who will agree to sign a non-disclosure agreement with you. Failure to do so may jeapoardize your innovation. There will be people who refure to sign legal documents, sometimes they will be members of your family. Do not faulter, you can satisfy them quite nicely with a variety of vauge and open ended statements. Don't ~ Treat your Inventor's Notebook badly Your future, and perhaps the future of the world lies within the pages of that notebook. Don't be spilling coffee on it! Take good care of your notebook, and it will last you for as long as you will care about. Don't ~ Be unclear in your statements Always be consise and to the point. Keep it as simple as possible, and then branch out to be all inclusive. You must discover your own style of writing as well, and you will find it in time. Don't ~ Use it for anything other than your Inventions! Do not be doodling in your inventor's notebook! This is a serious tool, not a toy. Use scratch paper for doodling, writing notes, sketches, etc. Draw only inventions in your notebook. If you are drawing a sketch on scratch paper to get it just right, when you finish, paste it into the notebook. Carefully put your signature and the date on the back of the sketch, and then glue around the edges. |