I have designed and made a prototype of a folding landing net with a new type of locking system that eliminates the stress normally associated with the hinge system. Can anyone put me in touch with a manufacturer who may be interested in producing the net?

John H

firstly! have you put a patent on the design if not thats your first port of call! then when patented approach big fish ing suppliers such as greys please be aware that in your patent you should cover as many design names as poss and create your own brand name to stop competition! i wish you all the best!

Could try these guys.

Welcome to Sharpes - the home of Salmon Rods - Trout Rods and Salmon Nets, Trout nets, Sea Trout Nets and Salmon Nets Since 1920


Used to be they actually made half the landing nets used in UK.
Might not be true nowadays though!

regards
bert

How about some of the companies who make the really large nets for carp and such like

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Whilst getting a patent on your design is the ideal solution, it is very costly, and you need to be careful what patent you require. Generally patents cover the design in a particular country. You can get them as a world wide patent, however it is very very expensive, gotta make sure it'll sell first!! Unless you're a Patent Lawyer yourself then I would encourage you to seek one out, the language used in patents is mental to say the least, one word wrong and your open for plagiarism!

I work in Product Design consultancy and what a lot of our clients do is to have all parties involved to signed an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) and Confidentiality agreement (Pretty much the same thing). Whilst not as safe as a patent it at least gives you some level of protection. You can also put a set of drawings and a spare prototype (if you have one!) in a storage facility that will allow you to prove that a design and prototype were in existence at a certain date, just in case anyone you talk to comes out with something remarkably similar, gives you some comeback in the courts.

If you want to get an idea of the costs involved in manufacture, engineering for manufacture etc then PM me, I'll be more than happy to send you some contacts that I have. I can also give you a copy of the NDA that we use, it'll be a good basis to go from.

Good luck with it!

Drew

Really good advice !

Via a project carried out during an OU course, I had a medical device patented, after going through most of what is suggested in the second paragraph above. It was supported for the first year by the hospital trust I worked for, but they couldn't support the second years costs of the patent process, as it would have been circa £20K, and that was over ten years ago !

Good luck

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The reason I keep smiling is to keep everyone wondering what I've been up to

Hi
Wychwood are actively searching for new products that fit within their range, they have a link from their web site in the contact us section

About Wychwood Game and contact details

Best regards
C

Hi MonkeyHanger,

it is a good idea to get the NDA signed when approaching companies that have their own products or do design work etc, but once the design is our there then it'll be no use at all. also consider that as (i guess) a one product company you would be a small fish in a big pond. if your design is considered excellent then some of the bigger players might consider selling it under license as their own brand which might give you a route to get a patent by getting them to fund it with your percentage initially.

if you do decide to go it alone i know of a good company that largely specialises in injection moulding design and manufacture of their own products but they also take tooling work on. I mention them because they have their own factory in China for tooling and manufacturing which will help a hell of a lot with your costs and pricing. I have no affiliation with them other than using them as a supplier for our companies own mouldings. if you are serious about going it alone I can get, them to contact you I can also give you some idea product costs etc if you need help.

another point to note is that most companies will take you more seriously if you have a working prototype, you can *******ize a current net and get your hinge system etc rapid tooled for a possibly a few hundred pounds if the design is already drawn up. either way let us now how you get on



Chris

Thanks for all of the helpfull comments.

I have been using the prototype I made for about 4 years.

Patenting the concept is not possible because its been in the public domain.

I am manly interested in getting the product to market and any financial benefits will go to Help for Heroes.

John H