Cashing in on Creativity

Local Inventors | Tips | Resources

Local Reality Show Hopefuls

Thousands of people nationwide auditioned to be one of 12 contestants on "Everyday Edisons," a PBS reality show that kicks off its second season this spring. Locally, hopefuls ranged from the established inventor to the girl with just an idea. And some, including Raoul Drapeau and Roger Ramia, are still waiting to hear if they'll be on the show.

Lyndsey Ballard, 28, Springfield

Day Job: Systems engineer for Lockheed Martin.

Invention: Plastic container organizer and dispenser.

Eureka! Moment:"We use plastic containers to take our lunch to work. When my husband unloads the dishwasher, he just chucks them in the cabinet, and they get all jumbled up, and the lids never match up. It drives me insane."

Status: No patent, no prototype.

Biggest Concern: "What prevents people from stealing your ideas? Even if I had a patent, I just think there are loopholes. It's kind of scary to think of putting all that time and effort and money into it, only to have somebody take it out from under you."

Raoul Drapeau, 68, Vienna

Day Job: Retired engineer.

Invention: A device for spray bottles that adjusts the direction of the squirt.

Eureka! Moment:"We have 11 spray bottles of that kind, and they only spray in one direction, and if a bottle is partially full, it only works if you hold it upright. Finally, I got frustrated -- there has to be a better way to do this."

Status: Patented and prototyped; looking for a company to license it.

Advice:"Come up with something that is easy en ough to sell the concept and easy enough to develop. If your invention is technologically simple enough that you have the resources and the skill to make a prototype to show people, that's the best possible situation."

Roger Ramia, 31, Vienna

Day Job : Software engineer.

Invention: Golf swing training device.

Eureka! Moment:"Ten years ago, when I was learning how to play golf, I used to pick up things to try to help replicate my swing, to help me get better. I started looking for products and didn't find anything, so I decided to make one."

Status: Prototyped but not patented.

Biggest Setback:"I was in college when I looked into getting a patent. So when the guy said it would cost $3,000 to $5,000, I was, like, 'Well, let's hold off.' Now I have money, but I don't really have the time."

Tips From Those Who'd Know

Members of the Inventors Network of the Capital Area share advice on patenting, prototyping and marketing inventions:

Inspiration can strike anywhere."When I was 10, my grandmother was sick a lot, and we'd wait so long for the pharmacist to bottle all those pills. So I said, 'I'm gonna make a machine for that. I'm gonna do something to count the pills for the pharmacist.' "

-- Carolyn Seals Barrett, 49, of Takoma Park, inventor of a pill counter for pharmacies

Be self-critical."Everyone thinks their idea is a great thing. Some are, but for many there's something ineffective or noneconomic about them. You really have to think hard about whether it's worth investing the time and money."

-- Frampton Ellis, 62, of Arlington, inventor of a shoe sole that replicates the bare foot

Keep detailed notes."When you're actually working with prototypes and design, it's important to record everything in an inventors' notebook and to have people witness and sign it, so you can prove that you invented it first."

-- Daniel Davala, 29, of Fairfax, inventor of a measuring knife for butter

Get cracking."In our open economy, a patent allows somewhat of a monopoly for 17 to 20 years. It puts the fire under the camel, because you only have a limited time on that monopoly."

-- Glen Kotapish, 34, of Middle River, Md., president of INCA and co-inventor of a brain wave simulator for sleep enhancement

INCA's next monthly meeting is March 28 at 5:30 p.m. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. Meetings are free and open to anyone. Membership is $24 a year. For details, call 410-391-4258 or visit http://www.dcinventors.org.

Resources to Get You StartedIIf you've got a bright idea but don't know where to go from there, here are a few sites to help you along:

Google Patent Search. Covers the collection of patents made available by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Inventors Network of the Capital Area. This support group holds monthly meetings at which inventors share tips on patenting, prototyping and marketing.

United Inventors Association. A national nonprofit corporation dedicated to educating inventors. Includes a "Novice Inventor Page" with tips for beginners.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The official line on applying for a patent.