Cascade Crew

IROCDave

Ever had an epiphany and come up with a great idea that you think would make a lot of money?

I had one a couple years ago while moving presents from under the tree to water it again. In my mind I pictured a large green funnel with a long extension (auctually I was picturing the funnel I use for filling rear diff's and transmissions). This money maker would have a check valve at the bottom that would allow a large vessel for water storage that could be about 2'6" off the floor for easey filling.
Welp, I was still holding onto my idea and was serious enough about it to take 30 seconds to see if something like this is on the market already. My get rich idea is just a rip off of someone elses and I didnt even know it.
http://www.wayfair.com/Santas-Solution-Auto-Stop-Christmas-Tree-Watering-System-ws02-SSN1007.html?refid=FR49-SSN1007

Anyone else ever have an idea for an invention / patend?

QwkTrip · Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:35 pm Post subject:

Ya, I've had two seriously good ideas. Can't remember either one. But they were damn good and I would have been stinking filthy rich if I had a better memory.

I have two US patents. It sounds glamorous but it really does get tiring fighting off all the female groupies that gather in front of my engineering office every day. If you've ever seen a female engineer you'll know why you want to fight them off.

blue89 · Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 9:37 pm Post subject:

flea · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 1:51 am Post subject:

1989 or so I had the great idea of a credit card slot on vending machines. The idea was brilliant in every possible way, if you used a credit card then you wouldn't have to make that choice between a can of pepsi for fifty cents OR a bag of doritos for that same fifty cents, you could have both.
The consumer is happy because he can get a snack without having to worry about the change, Big snack is happy because sales increase, and big vending machine is happy because, again sales are increased.

But Alas, it was an idea before it's time, as some of you may remember there were no debit cards in 89, and ATM cards were still a little clumsy when using machines out of your network. Who is going to want to spend 10% interest on a Pepsi and bag of Doritos? So I put it on the backburner to wait for things to change a little. . .

A few weeks ago I am in Portland and what do I see but a vending machine with a credit card slot. Mad

Moral to the story is file the stinking patent even if the idea is before it's time. I am not a manufacturer or marketer, I would have gladly sold the idea.

IROCDave · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 3:36 pm Post subject:

I feel better now. Thought I was the only one who had ideas, didnt really follow through then recognized when someone else made it happen.

Another one I had was a plastic clip that would hold the spray nozzle onto the can it came with. The insperation came in 1983 when I was 13 YO and noticed that none of my dads WD 40 cans had the nozzle. I was already working on my dirt bikes, BMX bike and lawnmower and used the stuff all the time. In hind site, I'm probably the reason the nozzle was missing Very Happy

Anyhow, about 10 years later I was telling a freind about the great idea I had and he said he just picked one up from NAPA.