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Youth is not necessarily an impediment to inventing success--ifanything, it may actually be an advantage. That's what ThomasEdison discovered. So, too, did Alexander Graham Bell. This month,we focus on young inventors and the road they took to build abetter mousetrap.
You're Never Too Young
Suppose you're 10 years old and invent a spill-proof bowl.Can you get a patent? No problem, according to the U.S. Patent andTrademark Office, which places no limitation on how old a patentholder must be.
While there are no official limitations, 17-year-old AlexiaAbernathy found there can be practical barriers. When she was afifth grader, Abernathy created the Oops! Proof No-Spill FeedingBowl for an Invent Iowa contest for young inventors. As the CedarRapids teen swept local, district and regional competitions, shewas encouraged to market her bowl.
"My dad talked to a friend who was a patent attorneybecause we both thought the next step would be to get apatent," says Abernathy.
The friend advised otherwise, saying it would cost severalthousand dollars to complete the patent process. Instead, hesuggested writing to companies to see if there was any interest inmarketing the product. Abernathy wrote to 12 companies andeventually scored with Little Kids Inc., an East Providence, RhodeIsland, children's products manufacturer that wanted to marketthe bowl.
"We worked with them for close to a year, then applied fora joint patent," says Abernathy. "They paid for it andput my name on it. After about a year, we got a licensingagreement."
This is just one way young inventors can get a patent. You canalso get a joint patent with a parent or get one in your ownname.
Programs and contests that encourage young inventorsinclude:
- National Gallery for America's Young Inventors. Annuallyinducts six students from kindergarten through 12th grade. (330)376-8300.
- BFGoodrich Collegiate Inventors Program. National competitionadministered by Inventure Place and the National Inventors Hall ofFame. (330) 849-6887.
- Invent America. Program operated by the United States PatentModel Foundation. (703) 684-1836.
- National Engineering Design Challenge. Annual event for highschool students interested in math, science and technology. (703)548-5387.
- National Science Teachers Association. Coordinates the DuracellScholarship Competition and the Space Science Student InvolvementCompetitions. (703) 243-7100.
- The Intellectual Property Owners Inventor of the Year Award.(202) 466-2396.
Sound Check
They heeded the call of entrepreneurship two years ago, and nowinventors George Searle and Humphrey Chen are right on track withtheir Wayne, Pennsylvania, interactive music information and retailcompany, ConneXus Corp.
"We expect big things from this," says Searle, 33, whomet Chen, 29, when the two were students at Harvard Business Schoolin Cambridge, Massachusetts. "There's a large segment ofthe [music-buying public] whose needs are currently not well-servedby existing distribution. That's our target market."
Searle and Chen created a product called *CD (pronounced"Star CD") that enables radio listeners to use theircellular phones to find out the name of the song they'relistening to. "*CD automatically gives you the name of thesong, the name of the artist and the name of the album [featuringthat song]," says Searle.
Sound like a good idea? Searle and Chen certainly think so--andare planning to test-market their patent-pending technology earlynext year.
Will the partners revolutionize the music-buying process? Staytuned.
Good Advice
Connexus corp. co-founder George Searle stresses the importanceof not letting enthusiasm eclipse practicality. "In additionto having an idea for a better mousetrap, you have to understand itin a business context. You have to understand the industry, themarket, the competition and the necessary technology."
Contact Sources
Alexia Abernathy, (319) 364-2041, lex1124@aol.com
ConneXus Corp., 154 Valley Stream Cir., Wayne, PA19087-5816, (610) 651-7747
