Prototype Development Companies Baltimore MD

Russell Williams founded Invention Home over 6 years ago to assist inventors with the marketing and licensing of their ideas. He's been asked nearly every invention-related question in the book, and shares his wisdom with you in this series, "The Inventor Q&A."

Question:

I have a new invention idea. Can you tell me what it means to prototype my invention and if I should spend the time and money developing one?

Answer:

A technical definition of prototype is an original model on which something is patterned. However, a prototype can range from a basic, crude mock-up that you could develop on your own all the way through a professionally designed, fully functioning working sample. In addition, with technology as advanced as it is today, many inventors are also using virtual prototypes to present their inventions to companies. I don’t believe there is a right or wrong way…if your end goal is to license the invention to a 3^rd party company, then what matters is having something solid enough to convince a company your idea is worth licensing. Some inventions can be licensed with nothing more than virtual drawings and an explanation of the invention. Others may require proof that the product actually works as intended, with a fully-functioning prototype.

The process of taking your idea and turning it into a tangible product is called “reducing the invention to practice,” and one of the first steps in this process is the development of a prototype. When it comes to prototype development, the inventor can utilize a professional prototype company, virtual designer, model-maker, or construct it on his own. I have seen many prototypes from inventors ranging from cardboard and tape to professionally-designed working samples. The important thing to remember is that the prototype process is evolutionary, meaning that you may start with cardboard and evolve the prototype through several iterations over time, as you refine your invention.

As I discussed in a previous edition of The Inventor Q&A, there are two options for going to market: manufacturing on your own, or licensing for royalties. Various decisions that you make throughout the process will be driven by which option you choose in going to market. Your decision to develop a prototype may also be driven by the direction you choose for going to market. The options are as follows…

Option 1 - Manufacturing on your own.

If you are planning to manufacture your invention on your own - either domestically or by utilizing overseas manufacturers - you really don’t have a choice about developing a prototype. You will have to develop a prototype of your invention to prepare for manufacturing (i.e., you can’t manufacture something unless you know how it works).

If you are planning to source your product from a manufacturer in China, Taiwan or other country, you may save some money on setup, molds and cost per unit…but they may not be your best choice for prototype development. In my ex...