Inventor discovers money is the mother of invention

Dear Diane: I am an inventor. I think I have the sameinspiration that people like Thomas Edison had.

But in spite of my good ideas, which address some real needs inthe consumer marketplace, I find there's no money with which todevelop and patent them.

I've written to several large companies, promising to sell 1million of any one item they would manufacture for me, but no luck.

Maybe one day they'll be ashamed when they realize what theymissed out on. (I've already "lost" many inventions by sharing themwith the wrong crook!)

Can you or your readers offer any suggestions, other thanmarketing firms?

M. L. E.,

VICTORIA, VA.

Dear M. L. E.: When Thomas Edison was lighting the way forinventors, manufacturers tripped over each other to beat a path toinventors' doors.

In those days, most inventors worked independently, and it wasrelatively inexpensive for a manufacturer to try out a new product.

In today's complex world, however, many big corporations havetheir own research and development departments.

New products often require sophisticated technology, anddeveloping them can be both risky and costly (expenditures forpatents, engineering, manufacture, packaging and marketing).

As a result, inventors like you can have a tough time getting afoot in anybody's door.

A large corporation may already be developing an inventionsimilar to yours, so they don't even want to hear your sales pitch;knowing about your invention could cause patent problems.

Also, some consider finding money to be the hardest part of theinventor's job. If you don't sell your invention outright, or give amanufacturer licensing rights, you'll find that most independentfinanciers - once you're lucky enough to get them interested - willwant majority control (over 50 percent interest) of the manufacturingand marketing operation.

Is it worth all the effort?

The Inventors Workshop International Education Foundation hasabout 15,000 members who obviously think so.

The foundation, which was founded in 1971, publishes a newsmagazine and sponsors an inventors' exposition. It also providesassistance and guidance on subjects like how to get patentprotection, how to get inventions manufactured, and how to offer themfor sale.

For information, write to Inventors Workshop InternationalEducation Foundation, 3537 Old Conejo Rd., Suite 120, Newbury Park,Calif. 91320.

The next annual Inventors Workshop Expo will be held in Anaheim,Calif., on April 2 to 4. Here's hoping you'll be there with yourlatest "invention"!

Readers, any other advice for "M. L. E."?

Dear Diane: We went waterskiing on our vacation. My husband,wearing new swim trunks that were a bit large on him, went into thewater with his skis on. When the boat started to pull him, histrunks fell to his ankles. We all had a good laugh, and I managed totake a few pictures of the mishap.

Recently, we had a few married couples over for a barbecue. Ishowed them the photos of our vacation - including the swimming-trunkincident. We all had a good laugh - except for my husband, whobecame furious at me.

Is he overreacting to my innocent fun? Or was I wrong to showthe photos in the first place?

CONFUSED WIFE

Dear Confused: Would you have shared in the amusement had youbeen the star of the vacation photos, wearing only a smile and yourswimsuit as an anklet?

Your husband was a good sport to howl with the rest of you whenhis trunks descended. Afterward, you should have done with thephotos what he did with his trunks: dropped them.

Send letters to Dear Diane, Box 3254, Chicago 60654.