Stephen Grealy, Entrepreneur, Designer & Inventor (Australia)
I’ve had a few inventors on this site thus far, some of whom have had tremendous success while others not as much but Stephen is the first guy who has a proven and tested product who’s about to get his patent in the next few months!
- Be methodical as to how you go about patenting your invention – time investigating will save you money and headaches later.
- You can save a fortune by doing the patent yourself – Stephen was kind enough to give you a step-by-step!
- Focus on selling your idea after you have a patent secured… but start the process as soon as you have a provisional.
You can find Stephen’s website online at AirTravelComfort.com.
Was your childhood dream to be an inventor or did it just happen out of the blue?
I did invent stuff as a kid. At least I thought I did. I was always building something in dad’s shed. It was my task to mow the lawns and trim the edges. All we had was one of those wheel cutting edgers. It was really hard work. So. . . I took dad’s electric drill and put the rubber sanding disc backing pad along with a stiff sanding disc. Then I stripped back a three core electric cord down to the separate red, black and brown plastic coated copper wires. Then I took a single length and attached it to the centre core, sandwiched between the two discs and… suddenly i had an electric edge trimmer… albeit a very very dangerous one but it worked a treat. Now, I don’t know how or why I came up with this idea but it was well before there were whipper snippers on the market.
Do you have any other inventions in the works?
Yes. I currently have a great new idea in the works. I filed a Provisional patent last year then messed around with some shed prototypes. Then I found a 3D printing and prototyping company in Ohio. I engaged them to make a 3D prototype of my design. It cost me quite a bit but I could not find anyone else I was happy with here in Australia.
It took about 4 months for them to finally send me the item but I was very very happy with it. I no soon got the prototype in the post and I found a 3D guru right here in Adelaide. He is just sensational. I am meeting him tomorrow to go over our 6th prototype refinement.
Interestingly I showed my accountant this product a week ago. He and his stockbroker are now primary high risk seed money investors in the start up company we have created. I will be filing the PCT for this product in a few weeks and then we will offer it to a worldwide brand already in the market. Stay tuned !!!!!
What was the entire process like from idea to finished selling product?
With my travel pillow the Tri-Pil-Lo™ it has been a three year, massive investment in time and money experience. I designed and developed the prototype from scratch. I controlled the IP Attorneys who wanted to charge me a home deposit in fees.
I learned how to write my own Patent documents. I learned how to file online with IP Australia, with the USPTO and with the WIPO in Geneva. I learned how to create a digital signature, download the PCT Safe software.
I fought a spurious charge by IP Attorneys trying to charge me for work not authorised and I learned the best way to get an international examination for the least possible cost. During one two week period I reckon I lost two years of my life learning how to upload PCT files through PCT Safe.
On March the 31st, 2014 I will find out if i have a two year licensing deal with a big space retailer in the US. If that happens. . .. cha ching! Stay tuned !!
How much time and resources did it take?
Hundreds of hours online, hundreds of hours of work, and nearly thirty thousand dollars.
How many stores and airports currently sell your tri-pil-lo?
Currently there is only one store selling my pillow and that’s in Sydney. BadBacks.com.au. There is a huge hurdle getting a single product brand into retail. Unless you have a $15,000 investment in what’s known as EDI – Electronic Distribution Interface – you’re screwed. No big retailer will touch you. All the retailers in Adelaide Airport for example are controlled – as licensed franchises with associated distribution chains – by one international multinational company from France. No way in without a recognised brand name product.
Where else do you market your invention?
Ebay.com.au in Australia, Ebay.com in the US and online at AirTravelComfort.com.
Was your invention a success right out of the gate or did it take a while for market adoption?
At this point in time the product cannot be declared successful despite have made lots of sales online here and in the US. The numbers are still insignificant. Notwithstanding that I have not spent a penny on marketing. This product is NOT a Shamwow. It will not sell itself. Thus far i have only teased it into the US to a select few outlets. I have invested in the Australian Innovation Patent and a USPTO Utility Patent as this is where the market resides. As pointed out before, March 31st will be “D” day.
You are the holder of several patents relating to your invention. How long did that process alone take in time and treasure?
I went through the Provisional Patent then Design Patent with IP Au. Then did a Provisional Patent with the USPTO. Then an Innovation Patent with IP Au. Then the PCT with the WIPO. Overall this was done within the 12 months allowed from first filing to due date to proceed.
Have you had to defend it?
So far it has been easily defended due to the patent protection afforded by the PCT and the examiner’s report.
Your website tri-pil-lo.com does a wonderful job explaining exactly what your product
does.
Thank you . . . it has been a work in progress.
Is your own website a major or minor player as far as marketing and income compared to other places such as retailers and wholesalers?
I have not launch into bricks and mortar retailers as i have not invested in any marketing or advertising. Therefore my website has been a major part of my my marketing. I was always seeking a licensing deal with my product. I am a designer not a travel pillow manufacturer.
What advice would you have for your fellow would-be inventors who have an idea but don’t know the way forward?
Go online to Google patents and spend about 20 hours researching and bookmarking every conceivable idea remotely similar to yours.- Spend another 20 hours reading and re reading all those patents.
- Go online to Freepatentsonline.com and do another 20 – 40 hours research.
- Go on ebay. com and ebay com.au and amazon.com and alibaba.com and search out your product idea.
- Go online to ipwatchdog.com and buy the $100 do-it-yourself-provisional-patent template.
- Write up your provisional patent with about 3 claims with the broadest possible scope of embodiments you can think of. EVERYTHING!
- Get an account with IP Au.
- Get an account with the USPTO.
- File a Provisional Patent with IP Au.
- Within 6 month file an Innovation Patent (5 claims)with an International Search by the IP Examiner.
- Determine if your product has a shot.
- Have IP Attorneys write up your PCT with max 20 claims.
- Download the PCT Safe software.
- Spend a week learning how to run it.
- Download the WIPO Digital Signature software.
- Spend a week learning how to run it.
- File your PCT.
- With your IP protection in place, send your prototype idea to a US based licensing firm and sell it.
Alternative spend between $18,000 and $30,000 getting some IP Attorneys to do it all for you.
