In 2016 United Patent Research (UPR) met with a major North American “As Seen on TV” company that introduces 400 new products a year. After reviewing a handful of UPR’s products, this company showed interest in 20 products. Universal Licensing, the licensing affiliate of UPR, carefully scrutinized the Non Disclosure Agreements (NDA’s) that were going to be used and found them to be acceptable. UPR was therefore able to travel to Chicago earlier this month for the Home and Housewares Show and hand deliver five NDA’s that needed to be executed. Once UPR receives them back, UPR and Universal Licensing will be able to submit all the proprietary information that is requested. UPR is also in the process of securing the rest of the NDA’s that this company has requested. UPR is looking forward to having a long working relationship with this significant company, and we will keep you posted on the status of the 20 products under review by this major company. These inventions are:

• Ommii Whole Body Pillow – Mylien P.
• Bob Shot – James C.
• Thorny Vine Puller – Jack L.
• Wardrobe Closet Hanger Dividers – Charles N.
• Snap In Replacement Curtain Hanger – Ronald H.
• Plant Safe – Thomas C.
• Sole Shoes – Michael Z.
• Beverage Wrap – Richard R.
• Can Closer – Joseph S.
• Squeeze ‘N’ Scrub Toilet Brush – Ronald G.
• Home Food Canning Lid – Karla B.
• Back Mate – Craig M.
• Whisk Keeper – John S.
• Lady Bug Soapmaker – Stuart D.
• Cradle Sleep Pillow – Trisha V.
• Taco Wrap – Bryant T.
• Chillynder – Michael H.
• Lift-E – Cesar P.
• Zip and Clean – Doug P.
• Triwel – Vernon P.

We note that these inventions span several product categories which bodes well for future manufacturer interest in our diverse portfolio of new products.

Sometimes it really pays to “look outside the box”.  In the world of invention development that often means to contact companies in other countries.  United Patent Research (UPR) has been communicating with a North American manufacturer that UPR met at the Homebuilder and Renovator Expo 2016 in Toronto, Canada.  Since this initial tradeshow contact, UPR has engaged in many discussions with this manufacturer and has received confirmation that this company has serious interest in signing Non Disclosure Agreements regarding seven inventions conceived by UPR clients.  Those products are: the Worthy Scribe invented by Patrick C.; the Hot Solder Dispenser invented by Guy H.; the Door Hinge Pin invented by Richard E.; the EZ Caulking Gun invented by Kenneth S.; the Ceramic Tile Spacer Multi-Configuration invented by James P.; the Double Swivel Locking Ratchet Wrench invented by John M.; and the Socket Glove invented by Steve S.

When attending a trade show, United Patent Research (UPR) brings all of its products from multiple categories because there are times when companies will request products that are not in the category one would normally associate with them. In February, UPR attended a large toy show in New York City and met a major toy manufacturer based in Hong Kong. Since then, that company has decided to pass on UPR’s toy products but has been extremely interested in some of UPR’s hardware products. Two products that received interest are:

Screw-Guide (Roger M.)

Easy Caulking Gun (Ken S.)

Appropriate Non-Disclosure Agreements were signed at the trade show. Therefore, once the product information has been submitted, Universal Licensing, the licensing affiliate of UPR, will be in a position to start immediate negotiations.

On Saturday, March 18, 2017, United Patent Research (UPR) will be attending the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago. It is anticipated that there will be over 62,000 business professionals in attendance at this tradeshow meeting with vendors that host a wide variety of product categories. UPR is prepared to meet with many of these companies since UPR already has pre-non disclosure agreements in place. UPR met with many of these companies in the past and will be meeting with them again in order to present new products that have recently achieved patent pending status.

Some of the product categories are: As Seen on TV, Cook + Bakeware, Tabletop, Kitchen Essentials, Accents, Bath and Shower Accessories, Cleaning and Hardware, Home Organization, Pet Supplies, etc.

UPR has a large selection of inventions that they will bring with them to present to new companies attending the show. UPR is looking forward to fostering new relationships so that both newer and older clients can receive exposure at this event. UPR will be following up with Universal Licensing, the licensing affiliate of UPR, on possible licensing agreements and contract extensions after the event.

United Patent Research (UPR) has been working with a major North American manufacturer that has its products in over 40 major retailers such as Sears, True Value, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Target.  UPR will be meeting with this company at the International Home & Housewares Show in Chicago this month.  They specialize in kitchen appliances and accessories.  Thirty-one of our clients have signed Non-Disclosure Agreements with this company and their products are in the process of being reviewed now.  Universal Licensing, the licensing affiliate of United Patent Research, is poised to start negotiations on any of the 31 inventions that receive interest.  We should know more after UPR’s meeting at the International Home & Housewares Show.  We also anticipate there will be more products that will be presented to this major manufacturer in the near future.

This weekend the President of United Patent Research (UPR), Mr. Patrick Ralston, attended a major trade show on behalf of UPR clients. The Toy Fair 2017 was held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, New York from February 18–21, 2017. This premier toy product show featured booths from major toy manufactures from around the world.

One of the major successes of UPR’s attendance at this tradeshow was that three companies signed general non-disclosure agreements with UPR. A general non-disclosure agreement is a signed document in which a company promises not to utilize or disclose any invention information provided to it by UPR. This safeguards the intellectual property rights of UPR clients.

At the tradeshow Mr. Ralston made many meaningful contacts with representatives of several major companies. Mr. Ralston met twice with the Vice President of New Brand Development of Razor USA, a major toy company. This company representative said that he is looking forward to fostering a mutually advantageous relationship with UPR. He discussed having a meeting next week to narrow down which products the company may be interested in licensing.

Mr. Ralston also met with the Marketing Director at Cobra Toys. This company is currently in the process of completing the appropriate confidentiality agreements which are needed before UPR provides the company with detailed information about our clients’ inventions.

At the Tomy International booth Mr. Ralston met with the Design Manager. Currently Universal Licensing, the licensing affiliate of UPR, is reviewing the non-disclosure agreements submitted by Tomy International. Once the proper non-disclosure agreements are in place discussions and licensing negotiations can commence. While at the AmEurop booth Mr. Ralston met with the Product Development Manager and Managing Partner. Another promising meeting occurred with the representative from Zuru which has offices in 6 countries. Mr. Ralston is looking forward to starting presentations with the President and Product Manager of Zuru early next week.

Finally, two significant meetings were held with Gund and Toys R Us. The Gund representative said that Gund is looking forward to meeting with UPR to review toy products that are available for licensing. Regarding Toys R Us, Mr. Ralston held a private meeting with Associate Buyer Mike Melo in the American Express lounge during which Mr. Melo reviewed UPR products for possible licensing agreements. UPR follow up will occur in the next several weeks.

On the fun side, Mr. Ralston was able to meet superhero Batman at the show who “guarded” the show from any trouble. All together, the Toy Fair 2017 was a great success. As can be seen from the above partial presentation of UPR’s activities at the tradeshow, there is a lot of hard work and targeting of attention that is needed for a meaningful representation of new invention concepts. UPR will continue to work hard for our clients at the tradeshows we will be attending in the upcoming months.

United Patent Research (UPR) is happy to report that a major North American manufacturer has shown initial interest in ten practical inventions conceived by inventors working with UPR. The interested company has signed a general non-disclosure agreement with Universal Licensing, the licensing affiliate of UPR, promising to guard any invention information in strict confidence. Eight of the new ideas under review deal with ladder related inventions.

The other two inventions are innovative construction aids. The Worthy Scribe, invented by UPR client Patrick C., is a construction tool allowing the user to easily and accurately transfer to a given surface an exact shape to be cut out. The unique design permits the user to work with horizontal or vertical services and use a variety of marking pens and pencils. The device is especially useful for carpenters, tile installers, and granite fabricators. The other invention, Shoulder It, was invented by UPR client Justin M. Shoulder It is a unique construction site accessory designed to make the carrying of wooden planks convenient and relatively pain free. Shoulder It fits on the user’s shoulder and cushions the weight of the wooden planks being carried as well as properly positioning the planks. As Shoulder It is adjustable and composed of lightweight materials, it is a valuable product for anyone carrying items on the shoulder.

It should be noted that the interested manufacturer was contacted by UPR’s President, Mr. Patrick Ralston, at the Chicago International Home & Housewares Show held this March. After the tradeshow, Mr. Ralston maintained telephone and email contact with the company in an effort to acquaint the company with the many practical inventions conceived by UPR clients. Mr. Ralston is anticipating the interested manufacturer will complete the review of the UPR inventions by the middle of January, 2017.

United Patent Research will be attending the exciting ICAST 2016 tradeshow, the largest sport fishing tradeshow in the world. ICAST 2016 is being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from July 12 to July 15, 2016. This convention center, with one half a million gross square feet of showroom floor, provides an ideal venue for the hundreds of manufacturers and distributors who will be in attendance. The focus of ICAST 2016 centers on fishing gear, accessories and apparel. As a significant number of inventors working with United Patent Research have conceived products related to sport fishing, this tradeshow provides an opportunity for United Patent Research to make meaningful manufacturer contacts on behalf of our clients.

United Patent Research (UPR) attended the International Home & Housewares Show 2016 this March. This extensive tradeshow was held in Chicago, Illinois in the state-of-the-art McCormick Place Exposition Center. This annual tradeshow is oriented towards the industrial and business community with over 60,000 industry and business professionals in attendance. Mr. Patrick Ralston, the President of United Patent Research, was in attendance with the goal of establishing productive manufacturer contacts.

One of the companies that Mr. Ralston reconnected with at the tradeshow was the AllStar Products Group. This company showed special interest in the All Around Sunshade invented by UPR client Jose F. After returning from the tradeshow Mr. Ralston emailed AllStar Products Group information about this innovative sunshade which helps to keep cars cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Another productive meeting was held with the Arrow Plastic Manufacturing Company. Three representatives of this company showed initial interest in four inventions in the category of food/beverage carriers.

At the COSCO (Home and Office Products) booth Mr. Ralston enthusiastically presented information about the Tripod Ladder System conceived by UPR client Alan L. This creative ladder combines the reach of an extension ladder with the safety and security of a step stool. As COSCO indicated an interest in step stools, Mr. Ralston thought that this product might be an excellent addition to their product line. After the tradeshow Mr. Ralston contacted the inventor and told him that the COSCO review team would like to evaluate a sample of his invention.

One of the exciting aspects of attending tradeshows is that our representatives can discover corporate relationships that might not be readily known. For example, at the March housewares show Mr. Ralston met with a representative of Creative Concepts USA which has a working relationship with Tristar. In this meeting Mr. Ralston presented information about the Workout Buddy, an exciting product which is simultaneously a pet toy, pet exercise item, and a human workout device. Upon returning to UPR headquarters, Mr. Ralston sent Creative Concepts additional information about this pet/exercise product.

Mr. Ralston’s meeting with Hampton Direct was also very productive. The representative of Hampton Direct showed an initial interest in four inventions created by UPR clients: the Workout Buddy (a pet item); the Baseboard Heater Covers (a home improvement item); the All Around Sun Shade (a unique auto sun shade); and the Tree Shelf (an accessory for decorative trees).

As can be seen from the above summary of Mr. Ralston’s activities at the International Home & Housewares Show 2016, many positive contacts with manufacturers were made. Some of these contacts were “old friends” that wanted to review our latest product offerings and some contacts were “new friends” who were eager to review the many innovative inventions conceived by United Patent Research clients. The important fact is the United Patent Research will continue to present interested manufacturers with pertinent information about our clients’ conceptions. As with any endeavor, consistent effort is the road that leads to success.

United Patent Research engaged in very productive meetings with major manufacturers during the 2016 Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The meeting at the Prism booth was especially interesting as the company’s founder and CEO, Steve King, is also an inventor.  He has developed a very unique stylus for use with computers and tablets having touch screens.  United Patent Research will be sending this company some of its product offerings for their consideration.  Moving on to the Levo booth, UPR’s representative, Mr. Patrick Ralston, met with the representative of this successful manufacturer of accessories for electronic tablets.  UPR hopes to interest this company in some of the inventions created by UPR clients.  Mr. Ralston was impressed with the wide range of quality headphones at the Audio-Technica booth.  As this company seems to have expanded its product line to include holders for portable video cameras, UPR may have some very relevant inventions to present to them.