NEVADA INVENTORS ASSOCIATION
"Education, Assistance, and
Networking for the Inventor"
To go to the main Page or the news letters and then
the old articles Page, up till June 98.
A Dose of Business Realities For Inventors This Month
This month's speaker at the NIA meeting will be Mr. Ray Bacon, Executive Director of the Nevada Manufacturers Association.
Bacon will present the business realitity from the side of the companies approached by inventors on a regular basis.
His presentation will touch on the issues of the differences between building one or two prototypes and designing
a mass production method. bacon plans to talk about the product cost and sales pricing. He will explain why he
believes even the greatest product in the world will not be successful with a 20% sales margin. He also plans to
discuss legal issues of product liability and competition from foreign markets. As Bacon states, "A dose of
reality may not make everybody happy but it is often a huge savings in time and money for many inventors. I think
it will be useful to those that ponder it and review what they expect from various suppliers and vendors."
Executive Director of the NMA for the last 10 years, Ray Bacon graduated from UNR Business school in 1969. Previously,
he spent 14 years at Bently Nevada deeply involved in many new product introductions.
This should be an important subject with time for questions and discussion. Please plan to arrive promptly and
don't forget to bring a friend!
2001 Officers and Directors
Prcsident: Randy Sloan, 747-3711
Vice President: William Torch, 329-4060
Prograrn Directors:
Carol Foldvary-Anderson
John Martinson, 747-1650
NIA Founder: Don Costar, 322-9636
Secretary and Treasurcr: Vince Chemist, 677-0123
Web Master: Vince Chemist, 677-0123
Newslener Editor: Margaret Stewart, 787-0314
UIA Bulletin Board
$ We are looking for health and fit-ness-related products to feature in the January/February 2002 issue of Inventors'
Digest. If you've invented a product that fits this description—and the product is on the market —please contact
ID's assistant editor, Kristina Provencher at Kristina@Kristinaprovencher.com
$ There are initiatives to, once again, push forth legislation that will dramatically change U.S. patent laws in
ways that are not favorable to independent inventors. I need your help. I need help from those who want to be actively
involved by monitoring legislation and contacting Senators and Congressmen and Senate and House Judiciary committees.
Unlike those who support this "inventor negative" legislation (America's majorcorporations), we cannot
afford to hire a firm to lobby Congress on behalf of independent inventors. We must create a very active, extremely
vigilant core group of people who will work to acquire information. My e-mail alert system includes thousands of
e-mail addresses but I need your eyes and your ears to acquire timely information. If you want to be part of this
core group, please send me an e-mail at Inventorsd@aol.com
$ Inventions for countering terrorism are considered special if applicants file a petition with the petition fee
of $130.00. The petitiOIl for special status should be accompanied by a statement explaining how the invention
contributes to countering terrorism. The types of technology for countering terrorism could include, but are not
limited to, systems for detecting/identifying explosives, aircraft sensors/security systellls~ and vehicular barricades/disabling
systems.
For more details see the USPTO Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 708.02, Part XI. Richard J. "Dicker
Apley Director, Office of Independent Inventor Programs Under Secretary and Commissioner's Office
Websites of Interest to Inventors
www.nvmfrs.org
The Nevada Manufacturers Association
website containing useful suppliers lists,
and member information.
wwwv.lnventorsdigest.com
Read the entire letter sent from
Andy (Gibb, judge of the invention
contest in New York on September 11 th.
www.uiausa.org
United Inventors Association bulletins
and useful patent law information.
Asking for help from local inventors.
www.inventionconnection.com
A Cyberspace Convention displaying
many new inventions.
Log on to find out how your invention can take part.
Adversity introduces us to ourselves. George W Bush September 14, 2001
A Natural Outgrowth of the Invention Convention
Trade Show - A Cyberspace Convention
What do the Summer Sled, The Northstar Puzzle, The Keener Wiener Rotisserie Stick and the Multipurpose Interactive
sensor have in common? These are all new inventions displayed this month a new cyberspace convention floor. Checkout
www.inventionconnection.com.
The Invention Connection Cyberspace Convention is an on-line networking service linking technology with industry
— investors, entrepreneurs, and licensees who now have, literally at their fingertips, access to potentially millions
of dollars worth of brilliant ideas waiting to bloom with the proper business nurturing.
The Invention Connections Cyberspace Convention is a natural outgrowth of tile world-renowned Invention Convention
trade show founded by Stephen Paul Gnass over a decade ago which has been a very successful venue for the introduction
of new products.
Gnass, founder of both, saw that while his pet convention filled a major void between inventor and industry by
providing important in-person contact with investors, media and public, that the advent of the internet would help
bridge the communication gap between inventor and entrepreneur that existed during the rest of the year. Thus Gnass
created the Invention Connection where those who invent new products could have year-round contact with those who
are seeking to invest and market new products.
Summary report of the 2001 Exhibit at the nevada State Fair August 22-26
by State Fair Chairman, George Kent
George Kent State Fair Booth Chairman with member Janelle Muldar after setting up this year's booth.
Len Schweitzer, Janelle Muldar and Toni Patti man the NIA State Fair Booth.
First things first. The Club's effort was effective!
15 people volunteered and worked an average 9 hours each over 5 days.
This was a total of 135 volunteer hours.
82 people expressed an interest in Our activities requested a complimentary newsletter and expressed and interest
in attending a club meeting.
The club's cost of the exhibit was about $526 of which $375 was for polo shirts with the NIA logo for volunteers
Some Observations
The backdrop and displays and TV were professional.
We had two effective exhibits—Len Schweitzer's rebar bender and Don
Costar's Clam Shell Rake and one effective video—again Len's. For exhibits to be effective (interesting to visitors)
they need to be self-explanatory. Videos, in addition to being "catchy" promotional features, need to
be easy for booth volunteers to manage—rewind, etc.
The NIA polo shirts for those manning the booth added to the professional look.
Recommendations
1. Plan on exhibiting at the State Fair next year
2. Form a committee by November to assemble a series of videos that can be put on a tape which will run for a minimum
of I hour
3. Replace the remote control for the club's video
4. Locate a 6-10 foot square storage location for all the club's equipment —to include Tony Patti's excellent backdrop.
In addition keep all State Fair Chairman's notes in this storage location
5. Maintain an active inventory of all the equipment, videos, etc. for State Fair or other exhibits
6. Continue the NIA polo shirt program
7. By next April select a State Fair Committee Chairman
VOLUNTEERS
submitted Don Costar
Many will be shocked to find,
When the day of judgment nears,
That there's a special place in Heaven
Set aside for volunteers.
Furnished with big recliners,
Satin couches and footstools,
Where there are no committee chairmen,
No yard sales or rest area coffee to serve,
No library duty or bulletin assembly,
There will be nothing to print and staple,
Not one thing to fold and mail,
Telephone lists will be outlawed.
But a finger snap will bring
Cool drinks and gourmet dinners
And rare treats fit for a king.
You ask, "Who'll serve these privileged few
And works for all they're worth?"
Why, all those who reaped the benefits,
And not once volunteered on Earth.
From a "Dear Abby" column
On September 11, 2001,
Andy Gibbs, CEO of
PatentCafe.com was in
New York City to serve as a
judge for the Hammacher Schlemmer Invention Contest.
He sent the following e-mail out after experiencing America's
day of horror.
Below is printed an excerpt. To read the entire letter please log on to www.inventorsdigest.com.
....This is a tough time for all of those who respect life, and especially so for those who experienced the tragedy
of terrorism through the loss of loved ones. Although it's no comfort to those who were lost in today's tragedy,
it once again sets into motion the great things upon which this country was built: American Ingenuity.
Within an hour after the second plane slammed into World Trade Center 2, New Yorkers were responding. As our small
group passed a huge shoulder to shoulder line shared by street people and 'blue suit' professionals that stretched
3/4 of the way around the block, I had to stop and ask what they were waiting for. With the subway closed, I surmised
that they were waiting for the re-opening so they could escape the Manhattan carnage. With an ear-to-ear simile
representative of tough, New Yorker resilience, the office worker said, "we're giving blood." No signs
pointed the way, no notices had even hit the airwaves—it was American Ingenuity that identified a problem, and
drove hundreds of'locals' to a location that promised one piece of the solution.
Churches up and down Broadway were open, with volunteer staff handing out cups of water to passersby like spectators
at the NY Marathon. 10s of
thousands of people working their way uptown welcomed the refreshment that helped clear the explosion dust from
their throats. There was no denominational bias, and no questions—just a pulling together of people to help their
neighbor. I can only assume that the same heartwarming scenes were unfolding in Washington as well.
I rounded the bend in the SOHO area just as the World Trade Center Building 7 collapsed in a huge billowing black
and silver cloud (building 7 was the third building to collapse). More sirens, more ambulances, more barricades,
more military brandishing M-16s—more chaos. But even as the building was collapsing, American Ingenuity was in
high gear. Behind the flashing lights, tough union workers from a local construction site were following their
supervisor's bark. They picked up their hard hats and hand shovels, and began walking the few blocks down to lower
Manhattan. HAND SHOVELS to begin digging out of the catastrophe that dropped 250 floors of high rise buildings
into the street, one scoop at a time! ....
Over the years, America has earned the wrath of many countries that see the country as an imperialist nation. But
as history has proven, American is a nation of hard working citizens committed to building a better society (China
and Korea are the only developed countries whose citizens work more hours each year compared to Americans). America
is a prideful nation that can mobilize its immense resources quickly to help itself through disasters, and do so
without authoritarian direction. It's a country comprised of disparate peoples who can find solutions, either in
the laboratories of corporations, or on the streets of Manhattan, and IMPLEMENT THEM! ....
Make no mistake: American Ingenuity has long been the steel spine of invention and progress, and it will once again
be American Ingenuity that will drive our country to succeed even in the face of the world's most devastating terrorist
attacks. As I look out of my hotel window, I can no longer see the peaks of the World Trade Center buildings— but
I can squarely see the beautiful architecture of the Chrysler Building— a symbol of an earlier era of American
Ingenuity.
Times change. But if there is one constant force in American culture that resists change, it's our determination,
creativity, tenacity, and commitment to succeed as a free people. It's American Ingenuity, and it must be held
close, yet given freely to our youth. I believe that we must pass on our most important attributes, and in a time
when the inventors and industrialists that built our great nation are fading in our history books, it's time to
revive the spirit. It's time for present-day mentors, teachers and industrialists to pass on our knowledge, our
spirit and our soul. It's time to again make heroes of inventors and creators.
We should all extend our prayers for the victims of terror, but more importantly, for those who survived. Their
shoulders will drive the machine of American Ingenuity.
There are no "free rides," but Americans have the freedom to ride into the future. Now is the time to
challenge yourself, and to discover your own piece of American Ingenuity - one scoop at a time.
Your are 
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"Education, Assistance, and Networking for the Inventor"
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Page done by Vince Chemist.
Created on December 29 2001
Updated on November 29, 2005