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An Inventor’s Journey from Idea to Patented Reality
19 Dezember 2016By Sue Casement/3M StorytellerPro Bono Patent to the Rescue
Pro Bono Patent to the Rescue
Pro Bono Patent to the Rescue
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When Marty Ferkul created a new-to-the-world cargo handling system for his truck, he knew he was onto something good. His invention allows a person to single-handedly load and unload heavy cargo without any need to climb into the back of the truck or SUV. There was still a lot of heavy lifting needed in the patent process – and that step is a much bigger hurdle than many realize.
After he filed the initial paperwork, he realized he needed help. For new inventors like Marty, LegalCORPS Inventor Assistance Program can provide a boost. It assists inventors who don’t have the financial resources to hire a patent attorney. And that’s how Marty found the help he needed.
Photo: Marty Ferkul demonstrates his invention – the Cargo Handling System.Jean Lown is a 3M patent attorney who has been involved with the LegalCORPS Inventor Assistance Program for years. When she came across Marty’s application, she knew she and her 3M team could help. To be a viable candidate for a patent, she says it has to be inventive and first in the world. “There can’t be anything too similar – it has to be novel and non-obvious. You need a convincing argument. That’s where the real challenge lies.”
Jean Lown is a 3M patent attorney who has been involved with the LegalCORPS Inventor Assistance Program for years. When she came across Marty’s application, she knew she and her 3M team could help. To be a viable candidate for a patent, she says it has to be inventive and first in the world. “There can’t be anything too similar – it has to be novel and non-obvious. You need a convincing argument. That’s where the real challenge lies.”
Jean Lown is a 3M patent attorney who has been involved with the LegalCORPS Inventor Assistance Program for years. When she came across Marty’s application, she knew she and her 3M team could help. To be a viable candidate for a patent, she says it has to be inventive and first in the world. “There can’t be anything too similar – it has to be novel and non-obvious. You need a convincing argument. That’s where the real challenge lies.”
Photo: Jean Lown, 3M Senior Intellectual Property Counsel, and Brad Wright, 3M Patent Agent-
That can take a lot of time and energy. Enter co-worker Brad Wright. He and Jean both started their careers with a Ph.D in chemistry and worked as 3M scientists. They each developed an interest in the legal side of patent applications and have found great satisfaction in this work and in volunteering to help others. For this project, Brad says he spent about 90 hours researching and filing, and his co-worker Paul Stenger spend about 40 hours on the drawings. “I spent time on this pretty much every weekend in May and June,” Brad says.
That effort was not lost on Marty. “I couldn’t afford the cost of lawyers for the patenting process,” says Marty. “I’m grateful for all the help given to me by the 3M team of Brad, Jean, Paul and their department. Without them, this patent wouldn’t have been possible.”
Photo: Drawing of the Cargo Handling System -
