Selected Inventions Program

The IAS has established a new program to assist Oklahoma inventors.  The Selected Inventions (SI) Program is designed to contract with service providers for initial services.

 

  We will provide inventors with in-kind services for Selected Inventions such as:

 

·        Engineering/technical evaluation and/or design assistance;

 

·        Advise and counseling regarding manufacturing and/or materials;

 

·        Assistance with prototyping;

 

·        Assistance with business and marketing plans; or

 

·        Assistance with patent or legal issues.

 

A Selected Invention is one that has:

 

·        A preliminary patent/product search;

 

·        A cohesive description of how the invention works as well as what function it serves;

 

·        Sketches or drawings;

 

·        Preliminary work addressing issues such as manufacturing, materials, safety and health, and other issues that may be unique to the invention.

 

The IAS will give assistance by contracting with a service provider.  The service provider is expected to assist the inventor with the identified problem and to provide a short written report to the IAS and the inventor outlining what was done, what assistance or service was provided, and what still needs to be accomplished, if anything.

 

At intervals, the Selection Committee will convene.  Their purpose is to consider the prospects of inventions that have been submitted for review since the previous meeting of the Select Committee.  The Committee will identify the invention or inventions, which in their collective judgment:

 

(a) are technically sound;

 

(b) can be manufactured with existing technology;

 

(c) appear to have market potential;

 

(d) are innovative, unique, and/or creative;

 

(e) do not have obvious safety or health & welfare impacting problems; and

 

(f) whose owners have completed the preliminary work as indicated.

 

Required submission components:

 

·        Completed application form.

 

·        Type written description.

 

·        Sketch or drawing (these must be clear and in ink or be computer-generated).

 

·        If there is an existing patent, please enclose a copy.

 

·        Results from preliminary search (patent and product search). Please list the reasons why your invention is unique or superior to what is already on the market or patented.  This is required before your submission can be evaluated.

 

·        List of contacts made or activities concerning this invention.

 

·        $25.00 submission fee.

 

·        Please send submission in a 9x12 envelope (do not fold) and mail to the IAS office.

 

Hints for submitting:

 

1. Be very specific about which step with which you want help.
2. Do a preliminary search.  If you find similar products, include those along with a statement about how yours is different.
3. Check out the Internet.  See if your product is already for sale.
4. Include good drawings (in ink or computer-generated) or photographs.  The better the committee can visualize a product, the easier it is for them to evaluate.
5. If possible, send a mock-up (a model of your invention made out of cardboard, clay, etc.) or prototype (a working model--may or may not be made out of the desired material).
6. A typewritten application is much easier for the committee to read and understand.
7. Do not put application into a binder or staple pages together.
8. Remember, your application is your voice to the committee.  The more details and information you provide, the better.

 

The committee will meet regularly to evaluate the submissions and your submission will be evaluated at the earliest possible meeting. You will be notified of the committee's decision.  Your invention will receive a selection or deferral.  A selection means that the IAS will contract with a service provider for a specific step.  A deferral will contain actions that the inventor needs to take so as to successfully resubmit the project.  All decisions of the committee are final.

 

1. You can have the IAS mail you a copy of the application.  You can reach us at 877-577-7632 (toll-free in OK) or 405-744-8727 or email us at invent@okstate.edu 

2. You can download the SI application in Adobe Acrobat and return by mail. 

3. You can download the SI application in Microsoft Word® and return by mail.

4. You can download the application on to your computer and fill it in and then print it off.  This also requires Microsoft Word®. If you use this option, pay special attention to the format before printing.  Make sure that each section stays together.