Remote Transmission Dip Stick Aftermarket Support?

[Fitzmotor]

It sounds like you may want to just consider your dip stick as trade secret. That way you don't have to divulge anything. Just keep records and dates on it just in case someone tries to patent it. My company has filed patents on many mechanical devises I have developed. However, I have also developed various types of coating for the aerospace industry that we just keep as trade secrets. All the information on them is in my lab book and we have never had any problems protecting that information. An Air Force lab tried to reverse engineer one of my better coatings without success.

Interesting stuff, the patent does protect me, but there are common ways around a patent, I will have to look into the trade secret possibility.

Thanks!

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[TJC]

The only downside is that you may in the future want to hire someone as the company grows. Once that new employee sees and understands your operation. he will set up a competing business. I have seen this happen in small businesses too many times to count. These cottage industry business folks become paranoid very quickly and lose all rationality. One business I attempted to buy refused to speak to me about the software and firmware used in the product. They had already been burned by an employee who one upped them using their own technology.

I wanted the company but would not commit without source code.... which they refused to sell with the company. I did not purchase the company, and the fellow running it died shortly afterwards, and the business venture ceased operations.

Most small businesses are cut throat and many will do whatever it takes to steal in an effort to stay relevant.

I don't go that route... but I understand the paranoia.

 

[Big Blue]

Interesting stuff, the patent does protect me, but there are common ways around a patent, I will have to look into the trade secret possibility.

Thanks!

Yes patents can be very interesting. That's why there are lawyers who specialize in them.

Not to be a "Debby Downer", but in your case what makes your stick unique and different compared to all the "prior art" that is already out there in the "public domain". That is what you could patent. That is the difficult thing with design patents, finding something nobody has thought of or done before.

 

[Fitzmotor]

what makes your stick unique and different compared to all the "prior art" that is already out there in the "public domain".

Well I got the "unique and different" part down, it took me months to figure out how to turn a flexible hose into something as stiff as a stick, I wish I could share it, I think you guys would be amazed with the process.

It's a shame, I had to pull most all my images showing the fixtures, some of the processes, because I already had someone steal some of my design, oh well, in business there can be people who are not honorable people, nothing is safe, if they don't have the ability, or want to take the time to properly develop it themselves, they will just steal it!

 

[got3fords]

Someone in China is probably already trying to duplicate the dip stick.

 

[TJC]

FWIW, Thomas Edison (with JP Morgan's backing) did his fair share of stealing from others and sabotaging competitors. Witness what he did to Tesla.

And Philo Farnsworth spent 15+ years fighting RCA over patent infringements of his TV patents. He finally won, but the $$ spent to protect his intellectual property was enormous. RCA literally tried to bankrupt him with constant ongoing legal challenges.

 

[Gdub]

As has just been said you may have to have big pockets to protect a patent. However, I doubt any large corporation or individual will see enough money in stealing your patent to spend the effort and money on it.

Keeping it as trade secret also doesn't keep someone from patenting your process if they develop it on their own but it does keep them from forcing you to not using it if you keep your records and with dates and signatures properly. Even the posts on this thread can help to support your claim to trade secret. Something like that can end up in court too.

I suspect you will not have any problem keeping your intellectual property.

Just remember, even trade secrets can have a time limit.

 

[06Warrior]

Hey Mike put me on the list. What is the price? Thanks

 

[Fitzmotor]

Got ya, now it's $159, it might change when I put up the website, if it does, it wont change much.

 

[Dsc]

Hello Mike,
Can you add me to your list also?
Note I am in Canada, thanks.

 

[Fitzmotor]

Hello Mike,
Can you add me to your list also?
Note I am in Canada, thanks.

Will do, the last Canada shipment was a little interesting, gave up on UPS and Fedex, USPS was not so bad.

 

[Dsc]

Yes, USPS should be the preferred shipping method. UPS and FedEx charge a very high fee to do border clearance. This often comes up in buying online from US vendors because they don't see the additional charges, only the receiver.

 

[Fitzmotor]

Well, after quite a process, I can legally say:

 

[Fitzmotor]

Huge thanks to Grumpaw and his Patent attorney son!!

 

[Grumpaw]

Huge thanks to Grumpaw and his Patent attorney son!!

Glad to help and glad it worked out for you !!!

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