Finding a Company to Refine a Prototype

You can send a msg to my inbox with some details.

Thank you for your input.

Raymond

First thing to do is to get a non-disclosure agreement in force, normally they last for 5 years, I would suggest nothing less.

get a patent on the device a soon as possible, refining it can happen once the 'patent pending' process is complete.

I am speaking from ecperience on this, you know all those LED lights that have appeared on vehicles? I invented a very similat device back in the 70s for a term project in electronics engineering I was attending at the time. My professor rejected the idea as a term project since he claimed it would never be able to be commercialized, which was a prerequisit for the term project. I dropped the idea, silly me, oh well win some loose a few.

Be careful when sending details to foreign countries. US patents only protect your invention here in the US.

Provide a non-disclosure agreement for reviewers to sign prior to giving details. On the surface, it's not much protection, but if anyone who signed a non-disclosure agreement, especially if notarized, decides to rip you of, you may get the courts to decide in your favor. The bad part is that it may take twenty or thirty years for that to happen.

My suggestion is to deal with people face-to-face. Ask around. I'm sure there's a few experienced mechanical engineers near your area who may be glad to help.

I'll 2nd that

If you can't afford to defend it you don't have a patent. A non-disclosure is only as good as the trust between the parties involved.

PM me & see if we can build that trust.

raymondaidor

Go all the way! Be patient! The more you can do your self the less you need help from others which means that you don't have to share with the hanga onners. If you know it needs refinement, make them. Start all over. Love what you are doing and understand the shortcuts or improvements while your at it. Usually they come unannounced and will send shivers down your spine when they show up. Take your time.

Even if you think you have done it all the company manufacturing and distributing the product in the future will have further improvements to make. No company will do the work for you and if, it will cost you!

Do NOT, I repeat, NOT send any thing to anyone. Confidentiallity agreements are not worth the space they take up on your screen! Even in hard copy they are worth Eff all. Like some other poster said Personal contacts are the way to go and even those can be a pain if $$ start flowing.

Stay indipendent as long as you can, it will pay in the end. All the best, Ky.