This book provides the reader with the information they need to develop into a person who seeks creative opportunities and responds with elegant inventions. It is intended for young inventor and to all those who have the talent and the desire to invent.
Author(s): William H. Middendorf
Publisher: CRC Press
Year: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 168
City: Boca Raton
Cover
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
About the Author
1 The Climate for Invention
Definitions
Patent Statistics
The Change in Education
The Change in Industry
The Change in People
Why Invent?
Are there Opportunities to Invent?
2 Examples of Inventions
Locking Thread Construction
An Improved Socket Wrench
A Ground Fault Interrupter
The Independent Inventor and the Employed Inventor
Two Kinds of Invention Problems
3 Learning From Great Inventors of the Past
The Steam Engine
Xerography
The Negative Feedback Amplifier
The Duplexer
Summary
4 Theories of Creativity
Selected Theories
An Ordinary Example
Janusian Thinking
Blocks to Creativity
Characteristics of Creative People
Creativity and Age
Individual vs. Group Effort
5 A Survey of Inventors
Can Inventors Describe their Methods?
The Responses
Summary
6 How to Improve Your Ability
Suggestions for the Would-Be Inventor
Summary
7 Choosing the Best Strategy
A Warning
Rabinow's Patent
8 Methods to Stimulate Invention
A General Method
Adaptation
Analogs and Duals
Brainstorming
Synectics
Involvement
Area Thinking
Functional Synthesis
Summary
9 Serendipity: Invention by Accident
A Chance Solution
New Discoveries
Summary
10 Tests to Measure Creativity
A Critique
Typical Tests
What is Important to the Engineer?
11 After the Invention
The Need for Records
How to Record Your Invention
Conception, Diligence, and Reduction to Practice
Presenting Your Invention
Selecting a Patent Attorney
Cost of a Patent
Continue Your Development
12 Preparing to Sell Your Invention
Selecting a Licensee
Information About Manufacturers
Letter to Prospective Licensee
The Nonconfidential Disclosure Agreement
13 Compensation
When Your Employer has Patent Rights
When you have Patent Rights
14 Refuting the Nih Theory
The Effect of Standards
The Loss of Motivation
Other Factors
15 Finding Standards that Affect Your Invention
Types of Standards
Standards Organizations
Summary
16 Case Histories
A Lifetime of Inventing
A Student's First Invention
A Lifesaving Invention
17 Closure
A Parting Word
Exercises
To Learn it Better
Invention Suggestions
References
Index
