America Invents : Services

Product Evaluation
The first step towards knowing the potential for any product is to understand its market. Before we continue onto any other step - we look at every project to determine its marketability and what it will cost to manufacture it. This evaluation is FREE.
Prototyping
With more than 25 years of product design and engineering experience, Ken Tarlow has designed for some of the most successful product companies like Ronco, Sankin, The Helman Group, Casablanca Ceiling Company and Sharper Image. Our prototyping specialists are able to turn your idea into a working, nearly finished-looking "product". This is the best way to demonstrate your idea to companies.
Patent Search
This is the next step on your road to patenting your idea. Many inventors make the mistake of rushing to this step before looking at the market or testing the concept by making a rough prototype. It is important to following steps to do your homework in the Prototyping and Patent Search stages.

Utility Patent
Protection is the center of the licensing game, but only the fourth step in getting your product on the market. Many inventors take this step before they know if their product can be manufactured or if the concept will even work using today's technology. It is important to take this step after you have received a "greenlight" from the above steps.

Marketing
There is nothing glamorous about marketing inventions. The feedback and interaction with the top companies in the world make it exciting - but it takes persistence, follow-up, market knowledge and a little savvy to get through to and maintain relationships with product decision makers. We have to know what they are looking for and how to make sure your product is presented in the best light possible. This is the moment of truth for your product or patent.

Licensing and Negotiations
Licensing determines how a company will 'lease' your intellectual property rights - usually on an exclusive basis. A company will pay a royalty based upon the wholesale price. While the industry average for royalties is nearly 2%, we have been able to average nearly 10% for our clients. By using information from a multitude of sources - including manufacturing and market research - we are able to determine a fair royalty for the inventor while taking into account the investment of the licensing company to get the product the market. We want our licenses to be long, fruitful relationships that protect everyone involved - keeping the doors open to future prospects.

Sales and Manufacturing
In some cases, the inventor wants to manufacture and distribute the product him or herself. If we feel that this is a wise and profitable venture to pursue, we will suggest this course of action as the return on investment is much higher (see our article: OPTIONS). This route offers a higher return, but also brings a higher amount of risk. There are ways to minimize the risk, such as pre-selling and managing sales. We have great success in this area. If you feel that this might be the course of action you want to take - call our team and ask us how you might benefit.

In my 28 years of product development and licensing experience, I have never seen a product licensed without a prototype. A prototype needs to demonstrate how the product looks, feels and works.

There is a big difference between a patented invention and a saleable consumer product. Our talented team of designers and engineers can translate your invention into either a nearly finished product or a working proof-of-concept model.

A complete product package increases your chance of success. This includes engineering drawings, packaging, and an estimate on manufacturing. These items, combined with the prototype and a patent, will answer all the questions a prospective licensing company might ask. This will allow them to get to the "Go or No Go” decision quickly….bringing you closer to that first royalty check.

-Ken Tarlow,
Founder, America Invents