Kids Inventing!: A Handbook for Young Inventors

Foreword vii
by Nicholas D. Frankovits and Leila Gay Evans

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

1 Getting an Idea 3

Look for a Problem to Solve 4

Break Problems into Smaller Parts 5

Think about Improving Something You Already Enjoy 7

Think about Solving a Community Problem 11

Think about the Needs of Others 13

Find an Idea Through Research 15

Find a Use for Something You Discover 18

Is Your Idea an Invention? 20

Activities 20

2 Keeping a Journal or an Inventor’s Log and Writing a Report 23

Logs and Journals 23

Reports 34

Inventor’s Logs, Journals, and Reports as Part of a Display 35

Activities 36

3 Making a Model 37

Start with a Sketch 39

Make a List of Materials 39

List the Tools You Will Need 40

Estimate Costs 41

Inventory Your Skills and Acquire Others 41

Set up a Workshop 42

Ask for Help and Be Safe 43

Make a Scale Model 45

Activities 46

4 Naming Your Invention 50

Name Your Invention after Yourself 50

Name Your Invention for What It Does 51

Use Word Tricks in Naming Your Invention 52

Name Your Invention for Its Sound 53

Name Your Invention for Its Feel 53

Give Your Invention a Catchy Name 54

Activities 56

5 Participating in Competitions, Programs, and Camps 57

What You Can Gain by Entering an Invention Contest 58

Preparing for Competition 58

Camps 65

Activities 65

6 Inventing as a Team 66

Teamwork Calls for Cooperation and Compromise 66

Small Teams 70

Large Teams 71

Activities 73

7 Learning with a Mentor 74

Mentors Are Guides 74

School Mentor Programs 77

Mentors from the Business Community 78

Activities 81

8 Patenting an Invention 82

How Inventions Are Patented 82

The Patent Search 83

Types of Patents 85

Patent Applications 90

Patent Infringement 91

Activities 94

9 Registering a Trademark 95

Trademarks Are All Around You 95

Trademark Symbols 95

Types of Trademarks 96

Applying for a Trademark 97

Trademarks instead of Patents 98

Activities 101

10 Manufacturing, Packaging, and Selling an Invention 102

Product Development 105

Find the Right Company to Manufacture Your Invention 109

Selling Your Invention 109

Licensing Your Invention 111

Activities 114

Appendix A: Suggested Reading 116

Appendix B: Useful Web Sites 117

Appendix C: Invention Competitions, Programs, and Camps 119

Index 129

Photo Credits 134