thoughts on electronic locks...

[unjust]

so i've a brilliant idea for a reasonably cheap retrofit that would make a pin tumbler lock functionally unbumpable, vastly complicate spp, and would allow for electronic failure authorized bypass.

as best i can see the idea hasn't been patented, probably due to materials concerns, which i think some new stuff has solved.

how short of spending ~5k on a patent atty do i look into commercializing something like that? anyoen done a patent app themselves?

[Iceberg_Slim]

through the history of locks, locks started out being Form over Function, and since linus yale patented the pin tumbler and started mass producing locks, locks have become function over Form.


besides a very few companies, the largest producing locks companies just spit out the locks with little or no regard to the security of its product. if you get a materials list together and come up and a market price for your lock. the US mass market overwhelmingly buys low end grade consumer locks that are cheap. the public just does not know much about physical security and the products out in the market. if you have a segment of the public you can market your product to and also guarantee security of your product, you might have something to work with.

[digital_blue]

Why not spend the $200 it costs to sit down with a lawyer and get advice on how to protect your idea while you try and pitch it to existing lock manufacturers?

db

[unjust]

because any patent atty worth talking to is going to be ~500-2K just to talk because of the research they'll insist on.

heck i can read a bunch of lock patents and search for appropriate words.

and companies wont' talk about commercializing anythign until youv'e got a patent, on the chance they have something similar it'd be an argument that you inspired their item.

[mh]

anyoen done a patent app themselves?

Not yet, but I plan to.

The initial filing fee shouldn't be that high (75 USD?), the process gets more expensive as soon as you ask the patent office to start their research.

With this protection you could start talking to people about it.

Of course you need to get the 1st application right, can't add anything later.

Cheers,
mh