Staples Invention Quest - Enter by Nov 27, 2006

It's that time again.
Staples is having their Invention Quest.

They have 3 divisions and the winner in each will receive $25,000.

Invention Quest - for inventors aged 19 and over
Invention Quest Kids - for inventors 18 and younger
Invention Quest Associates - for Staples Associates

You can check out their website at: http://inventionquest.dja.com/

Also: take a peek at past winners and their items:

Sarah Pantaleo - invented Spindex™ disc dividers help keep your CDs and DVDs organized while saving space.
Beth Andria invented FrameWorx™ A dry-erase/bulletin board that surrounds your monitor and helps keep reminders always within reach.
Todd Basche invented WordLock™ The easy-to-remember combination lock that lets you choose from more than 10,000 words.
Eric Gibbons invented DigiDots™, media storage that can be put practically anywhere.
Mark Johnson invented DigiFiles™ way to organize and store your media just like traditional manila folders.
Rene Santiago invented ShowCards™, colorful, customizable business card display kits

see all the products and winners at:
http://inventionquest.dja.com/staplesCons/pages/EasyProducts.html

Entrepreneur Magazine's Inventions Radio Show

Entrepreneur Magazine's Inventions, Patents, and beyond
http://www.youinventit.com/radio/index.html

This site has an archive of radio shows that talks about topics of interest to inventors. So if you don't like to read, you can sit back and listen to some advice about building prototypes, raising money, promotion, etc.

There are lots of commercials for patent attorneys, etc at the end of each program segment.

Example of program: (you need Windows Media Player or similar software to listen to the program)

Do I Really Need a Prototype
Segment 1
Segment 2 - guest is Tyler Harrell a plastics consultant, President of the Plastics Resource Group

check out all their past shows at: http://www.youinventit.com/radio/index.html

The Best Blog for Inventors

The American Inventor Spot
is geared to the individual inventor.

They update their blog frequently and keep you up to date on news, advice and other items of interest to inventors.

http://www.americaninventorspot.com/

They also have a great events and contest calendar to keep you up to date.

http://www.americaninventorspot.com/inventor_calendar


Their blog is the best! I have to admit, even better than this one.

Gearlog - A Gadget Guide

Gearlog A Gadget Guide
by Geeks, for Geeks

read their blog at:
http://gearlog.com/blogs/Gearlog/


Everybody at Gearlog works for PC Magazine They are "number 26 on the Chicago Tribune's 50 Best Magazines list."

How to Protect Your Ideas

Joe Birkner is running a one day seminar on How to Protect Your Ideas

Oct 3, 2006
6:30-9:30
or
Nov 3, 2006
6:30-9:30

To register contact:
Susan Leffler
(781) 334-5814 at Lynnfield Adult Ed

or

Joe Birkner (978) 536-2864
for more information see:
http://www.inventne.org/course.html

Better Than USPTO's Patent Search?

Some inventors have found freepatentsonline to be a better way to search for patents than the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO's) website

freepatentsonline's website stated that their site is the best site for patent searching because they offer the following features:

Search term highlighting
Word stemming
Proximity searching
Relevancy ranking
Search Term Weighting



Compare for yourself
http://freepatentsonline.com/ vs http://www.uspto.gov/

If you need a 3-D sketch but don't know AutoCAD

Try Google's Sketch Up

http://www.sketchup.com/

It is free 3-D software to help you represent your ideas.

"tools enable you to create 3D models of houses, sheds, decks, home additions, woodworking projects – even space ships"

Recent Articles of Interest to Inventors

From the Wall Street Journal:
The Cutting Edge:Making a NameWith the 'Ginsu'
His Late-Night Commercials
Live On in U.S. Pop Culture
By STEPHEN MILLERSeptember 9, 2006; Page A4
Arthur Schiff, TV-Advertising Pitchman (1940-2006)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115776073299858307.html?mod=Remembrances


From the Wall Street Journal:
Starting a Food Business
August 15, 2006; Page B8
Q: How do I go about publicly selling my family-recipe barbecue sauce?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115560607944035803.html


Food for Thought Got a great food idea? Submit it directly to Kraft.
By Amanda C. KooserEntrepreneur Magazine - September 2006
http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2006/september/166118.html


Want to submit a new food idea directly to Kraft Foods?
They are looking for new product and packaging ideas.
http://www.kraftfoods.com/Innovatewithkraft/readmore.aspx
you can submit your idea online or or download the Submission Packet to printand mail in your forms (.pdf 20k)(Download Adobe Acrobat Reader)