Patent Agent is a Key to Inventor's Success (Part 2).

(Inventor’s sketches)

It was very difficult for me to write the formula of invention, mostly because of losing skills of a researcher. Indeed, I was solving the last similar problem about 25 years ago preparing my Candidate Thesis. I thought that I knew how my device should look. But I was unable to develop the single formula using the language of strict facts, perfect sequence of actions and logical functions of components of the device. It looked like creating a song, but with the use of engineering terms - it is impossible to add or delete any word without losing meaning and balance. Fighting with inertia of engineering language and parasite words, I persisted in writing phrases and sentences describing functions of the future device. I believed that the moment would come when all I wrote would compose the single idea.

Once, a simple idea stoke me - may be the time had come to present all I had written to a patent expert. The interval between the idea itself and its realization was minimal. I packed all phrases in a text file, made necessary comments and sent it to a patent agent. To my great surprise, on the next day I received the edited file with my own phrases and sentences. But this text was really finished, flatly describing novelty of invention. Indeed, skill and deep knowledge of a broad-minded patent engineer is a key to success! In my case, such key looked like the properly packaged and duly executed patent application.

Some time passed, and the Federal Institute for Industrial Property notified me on receipt and registration of the utility model application of June 24, 2011 (as the priority date). The application code ended with the number of 13 (my lucky number!) I was happy as a first-year student passing a difficult exam without any efforts. Nevertheless, I had to work much on the patent.

Joyfully, I went to visit the patent expert to get acquainted with the master, who integrated my disjointed thoughts into the finished plot of the future patent. In the patent office I met a refined man, slightly older than me, with lively and penetrating look. I simply asked him  how he managed to do all this, and received the confusing answer: "I simply rearrange your ideas as appropriate..." Without any delay I paid an extra fee to my modest companion. We parted satisfied beyond all measure!

Then we had several meetings, at which my patent agent recommended to file the international application to fix my priority in countries executed the Paten Cooperation Treaty (PCT). I understood that there may be only one chance to enter the high-tech market strictly divided among the largest international corporations. Therefore, I followed his advice. And I decided to boost my first inventor success got after the long gap in my engineering activities filing the international utility model application in 147 countries and several regional patents, including that in USA and China.

Vladimir Elin
June 2011