Hi Paul,
Congratulations and best of luck. Is this your idea?
http://www.google.com/patents?id=ZNOnAAAAEBAJ&d…

Great news Paul!

I see that it is a calendar? Can we get a summary on the description?

Congratulations!

Congratulations Paul, I am very happy for you. :)

Congrats – what an great milestone.

Congratulations Paul! Thank you for posting your great news!

Congratulations Paul!

Yeah,congratulations,Paul.

Very commendable accomplishment! Congratulations.

Congrats! When did you apply? I’m curious as to how long it took. Also, I’m with Patrice on this, can you provide a laymen’s description? I’ll be honest I took a look and it seems intriguing but I don’t believe that I understand.

Best wishes for success!!!

Top ’O the Morning to my EN friends:

Thanks dond, patrice,toni,miked,ib1gypsy,susan1,abacus,rmramos,romiei and everone here at EN : D

Yes, don, the calendar is shown on the link that you posted.

The patent is sure written with a lot of “legalese”—- that even when I look at it, I can’t believe that it’s describing such a simple idea!! I ask myself how such simple sketches and description that I provided to the lawyer ended up sounding so complicated! Lawyers take something simple and make it sound complicated. That’s their job, I guess— and that’s why their “claims” actually mean something.

… here’s what it is:

It’s an new, FuN, exciting, interactive calendar! (no batteries required)

Every day the user pushes a flexible dome on the calendar for that day, and the calendar “delivers” a surprise folded-up “ticket” into a tray at the bottom of the calendar. The calendar user unfolds the ticket and enjoys the “message”. Jokes, quotes, games, puzzles, riddles, fortunes, trivia, “the grab bag”, and much more!! (Unfolded ticket size is about 2 1/4″ × 4 1/4" inches).

Material was researched and developed from hundreds of sources from across the United States and around the world!

Every “ticket”, designed by award-winning graphic designers is from a special collection of material containing:

modern wisdom, anecdotes, fascinating facts, proverbs, riddles, folklore and urban legends,

puns, brain teasers, words and expressions, anecdotes, official rules, questions and answers,

rules of thumb, one-liners, poetry, bumper stickers, jokes, the ‘grab bag’, and much more…

Calendar Characterists:

100% Unique

New, Different, Fun

wide variety of material / broad range of applications

Fun for everyone!

Tactile

“You can’t look ahead”

A decorative accessory

“A new method of delivering information”

My plan is to license the idea to a major calendar manufacturer…

Wow! Exciting, clever and innovative! Best of luck!

Paul, I wouldn’t limit myself to just calendar manufacturers. I think the sky’s the limit …Maybe also include manufacturers of gadgets. I see it as one of those gifts that would be sold in Macy’s men’s department with the other “gadgets”, especially around Christmas time. I’m thinking TJMaxx, Hallmark, Kmart, Target, HS, Bed Bath and Beyond, Brookstone, etc. I’m trying to think of companies that manufacture those “gadgets” — Timex, Conair, Black & Decker, etc.

• Disclaimer – I’m no expert! I just like to think outside the box - but isn’t that why we’re here? Good luck!

Hi Paul, I know exactly what you are talking about.
When I read my patent, I can’t believe that it is talking
about my small device that I invented for sleep apnea,
neonatal and respiratory care.

Pretty impressive the way the lawyers use all these big
words to cover such a small invention.

My lawyer tells me that this is necessary so that no one
will even try and steal my invention. He said he covered
all aspects. I am so lucky to have found him.

Again, Paul Congratulations.

Congratulations Paul!!!

Is this invention sorta like the punch boards that they have at local clubs….I like to play them! This is how I am trying to envision how the calendar works except it has information in the holes. If I am correct, I think it is a cool idea! Thanks for sharing!

Paul,

Someday you will have to tell us how you came up with such a clever idea? Congratulations.

Hi again!

I"ll be happy to answer everyone’s questions, but first I have to tell everyone a little of the “behind the scenes” history related to how I “invented” this calendar…

Nothing happens overnight…

The idea for a new type of calendar that dispensed “tickets” was invented by my brother, Anthony, way back around 1980. Yes, my brother, Anthony!

He remembers seeing punchboards on my grandpa’s back porch in Salt Lake City Utah as a kid during the early 1960’s, when we visited during the summer from out of state. I was too young at that point to remember them. (Grandpa owned a restaurant on Main Street in SLC- and had punchboards by the cash register. go to http://www.punchboard.com for the fascinating story on the original punchboards. Click on the “History” link there.) See how the ticket unfolds when you scroll over the link… that’s how the calendar tickets open up.

So, one day back in 1980, Anthony was trying to quit smoking, and he had one of those little pocket calendars that fit in a wallet, etc.— the ones that have all the year’s months and dates on one little laminated card. Every day he thought he was going to really actually “quit” smoking- he used a pin to push through the day to mark it as “the day” he quit. One day, he was pushing the pin through the paper, and he had the proverbial “EUREKA” moment. He immediately saw the endless marketing possibilities of a CALENDAR AND A PUNCHBOARD.

So, there began the “NEW TWIST” on an old idea.

Excitement, dreams and thoughts of fancy cars, yachts, homes, etc. were rampant for Tony, and family members, investors, etc. who helped him financially, etc. as you can imagine…

It was Anthony’s idea, and he was in charge… but, unfortunately— inexperience, mistakes along the way and quickly passing decades led to the expiration of his patent. The whole thing eventually stalled, and never got back any momentum when the patent expired. Anthony, still to this day is working “on and off” on his original punchboard calendar marketing, and trying to make it “happen”.

Years after his patent expired, I told Anthony that I thought I could develop a new way to dispense tickets that might be patentable. He said OK many times and that I could do whatever I wanted… He lives in California, and I live in Utah— so after a few years of developing the idea without any input from him (he’s big brother, and little brother Paul can never do anything right ; )… I told him I had a good idea on how it could work. He didn’t even want to hear any details about it.

His first comment was "it’s impossible to improve on a punchboard— they’ve been making them the same way for over 100 years, and if there was a way to improve it, somebody would have already done it!. So, I let that comment pass, and continued to quietly and independently work on the idea. Then, about a year ago, when I mentioned it to him again at a family gathering in Utah that I was getting closer to having an actual working model, he said that I was “delusional” and my “brain had gone haywire” for thinking that I could improve on his idea of a punchboard calendar! He said his punchboard calendar idea was like the classic “frisbee”—- there was no way to make it better. (More of the big brother ego popping up, I think).

I told him I didn’t think my new idea was necessarily better (that’s all subjective, anyway) just different— and, hopefully PATENTABLE.

Anthony has recently apologized for his comments, and wishes me the best with my new idea. I’ve told him many, many times that without his original idea to work from, that I would have never thought up the new idea. It’s “all in the family” anyway, and as I told him, any money made off my new idea will be shared with family members, etc.

He’s still working on his original idea, and I’m following up on the “new” idea. Living in different states is great because it keeps the ideas separate and distinct from a patentability standpoint. (When I was talking with my patent attorney about applying for the patent on this new ideation, I told the lawyer that I wanted to put Anthony’s name on the patent because without his original idea to work from, I would have never thought up this new idea—- the patent lawyer quickly told me that if Anthony had not been involved with this new idea development, then his name could not be on the patent application).

I thought I’d let everyone here know that things are sometimes “invented” in the strangest ways, and this is one of them.

Having a patent is only the first step… there are a million ways for me to make mistakes, too…

I’ll keep everyone posted on the development of this ongoing saga.

P.S. Within the last 4 months, this new calendar concept has won two awards.
One from the USPTO, and one as a “Best New Business Idea” runner up awarded in a contest sponsored by the local Small Business Development Center / SBA.

Great story Paul. It is so interesting to learn what’s behind the patent. Toni, what’s your story?

Rose Marie- answer to you how long did it take question:

I started pulling information from my inventor’s notebook, etc. in late 2005.

I made it into the lawyer for the first time to start him working on the provisional patent application in early 2006- Several trips back to his office to add / edit / correct some details that he ended up writing wrong during and up until August, 2006. (I made sure that I read every word in the patent over the course of a few weeks, so I could make sure everything was absolutely correct.)

Applied for the provisional patent on August 7, 2006.

Applied for regular patent on August 7, 2007.

Then… wait, wait, wait- the USPTO finally corresponded / called with the attorney—- and they discussed claims, etc. over a period of time.

Patent is going to issue on April 14, 2009.

Peggy-

Yes, the idea is based on the same punchboards that are still legal today in some states—
non-profit orginizations sometimes use them for fundraising, too.

Ebay has all sorts of old collector’s item punchboards for sale.

The “girlie” boards were the most popular.

Toni-

Yes, it would be neat to see your patent, too!

Could you list the patent # or a link to it, so we can see!

Anyone else have their patent that we can view?

Thanks!

Paul

Congrats Paul! What a great idea!

Congratulations and yes, I’m a little green eyed with jealousy. Perhaps I’ll get there yet with help from Shawn and Don.

Congratulations Paul. Don’t miss out on another possible market, pills. It sounds like you calendar is sealed. It might be useful to people taking pills daily to help them not forget. You might market it to labs that manufacture daily pills like vitamins, contraceptives, etc.

Paul,

Congratulations. At last, huh :) !

So your saying it took 42 months total from submission to approval? or was the 3 1/2 years a generalization?

I been waiting 26 months from submittal on my first patent without any contact from the USPTO. I hope I don’t have to wait another 18 months.

Toni:

When do we get to hear your story?

;D

Paul

HI Mark:

Thanks for your comments and suggestions…

Seems like the sky’s the limit with this thing.

Will keep everyone posted.

Paul

Hi Mark G:

Yes, at last!! But worth it!!!

Provisional filed Aug. 2006

RPA filed Aug. 2007.

Patent issued April 2009

CIP filed April 2009

32 months from date of application to issued patent.

Expensive process, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone unless they have a mass-appeal product that professionals in the industry have given the “green light” to. This product has the added factor of people needing / wanting new calendars every year, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed…

Here’s the official US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE patent:

PATENT NO.: 7,516,568

Somebody pinch me!

That’s just great Paul…congrats…wonderful feeling isn’t it? You now own that idea for 17 to 20 years now. That is special…and the thing I like…if anyone uses you can sue…you are protected. (Don’t forget there are patent lawyers that will sue on contingency)

Best of luck with your patent!

Thanks, Ron!

Good to see you’re back here at EN!

HI Paul,
Congratulations!!! I was just issued my patent today!!! #7,523,779. I have met a couple of patent attorneys over the last two years and they have told me it is very difficult to get a patent. So hurray for all of us who have received one. I hope it helps with marketability. Good luck.

Hi Marie:

My wife and I just looked on the USPTO’s website and saw your patent!

She thinks it’s a great idea and you’ll sell lots of them! I’d like to really congratulate you on your efforts!!! I hope this encourages more women to invent something and pursue a patent if it’s worth it.

Are you going to manufacture yourself or license or ???

Thanks Paul and Mrs. Paul. I am talking to one company now on licensing for kid products only and in the BB&B contest. So time will tell. I am also thinking of manufacturing but I need to learn a lot before I take a step like that.
It cool to find your patent on the USPTO website.

Hi Marie, Congratulations on your invention of a Fabric Panel System. Great idea! BB&B might just flip over it.
Good Luck :)

Congratulations Paul and Marie! What an accomplishment!

I may have to wait another year or two before my patent is issued. My utility patent application was just published on the USPTO website last January.

Thanks Toni and Susan.
I was surprised how long it took to go through the process. And also the cost, I hired a patent attorney so I wouldn’t screw it up. But all that is behind me now. Onward and upward!

Hi, my name is bren and I congratule you! I also have a patent issued #7503650 B2. I would appreciate anyone’s feedback about my invention. Thanks, and good luck to all!

Hi Bren, Interesting product. At first glance I thought it just a novelty, but adding the use of glow in the dark material as an aid in locating the product is clever especially with products using less framing material to reduce weight which makes finding the product harder to find. Do you plan to license or manufacture the product yourself. Also seems like a fun product for kids. best of luck.

Hi Dond, I’m considering either. I have a contract with a licensing firm and haven’t had much success although I don’t really think they have done much pushing. My contract is up in oct and I will take it from there. I am a little confused as to what restrictions I have with them and if they will get part of my royalties if I find someone myself and my patent attorney never got back to me. SOOOOOOO, I am WAITING some more until I am SAFE BEFORE i PERSUE ON MY OWN. Thanks for your input, I so appreciate it!