Bringing An Idea To The Masses

Press & Sun-Bulletin:

Few individuals have a moment of clarity when they give birth to an idea for a product or service, and even fewer take that idea and make it happen.

Taking an idea to market is a long process, but in the end it’s worth it, inventor Mark Saroka said.

“It’s extremely exciting starting to see consumer demand for a product we dreamed up, created and are now marketing,” he said.

Saroka and his brother, Kevin Saroka, created an adjustable mirror — CargoView Mirror — that attaches to a vehicle’s exterior via a powerful magnet.

The device allows a driver to keep an eye on cargo placed on the car’s roof.

The mirror also can be used to eliminate a vehicle’s blind spot or can be used inside, attached to the dash with Velcro, to watch children in the back seat.

Mark Levy, a Binghamton lawyer who specializes in intellectual property law, suggested inventors take these steps when considering the need for a patent:

* Write down the idea, preferably with ink, and sign and date the document.

* Have one or two witnesses sign and date the item.

* Add drawings of the invention, if possible.

* Search the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Web site or Google’s patent database for similar inventions.

“You’re searching for anything that is close to your invention,” Levy said.

Photo by CargoViewMirror.com.