Baby blanket advice needed

[Dr Ismail]

I had a thought for a baby blanket toy. I originally had the thought when watching my baby nephew playing, and have produced a prototype which he plays with and enjoys in the way I had envisaged.

It is different from what is currently on the market, although there are some similarities in that you do get other baby blanket toys. But I believe my design has a couple of unique selling points, especially combined in one toy.

But now I am at a loss as to what to do. I am not sure it could be patented, but even if so, I don't have the time or money to pursue that.

For me a perfect solution would be to be able to approach a baby toy company and present the idea/prototype to them under a NDA. They could then tell me whether they would be interested in pursuing a patent on it, or if not, just producing it if they believe it has merit without a patent?

Is that sort of thing possible?

[Inventoy]

Hi Dr Ismail,

What you are proposing is totally ok in the toy industry. There are lots of toys companies looking for new baby products. As you said first get an NDA signed by any company before showing the idea. Some companies won't sign them but others will. The best option for you is to license the idea for royalties. Commonly inventors receive between 3 and 5% royalty on products. My advice now would be to join a baby product group on linked in and post what you have posted here. I virtually guarantee you will generate interest. Also check out toy products in stores see who makes them and then search for them online. Best bet is to contact the inventor relations or new product managers within the comapnies. If this fails go to the CEO or similar..

Hope this helps.

Inventoy

[ismail]

Many thanks for the advice, very helpful.

May I ask, would the post on Linked In be so potential companies can see it?

Apart from posting there, do I now basically just find baby blanket toy makers and send the relevant people emails?

In which case, how much detail of the product itself can I safely include in the message to arouse interest, but not give away what I have thought of?

And one final question for now, the NDA form, is this something I provide for them to sign, or something they will already have? In which case, is it always trustworthy or can the smallprint allow them to produce something similar?

[Inventoy]

Hi, Use Linked In to find the companies and contacts within those companies. It really is a great networking tool. There are baby product specific groups on there.

Don't give any info about the product at all. Just a "I have invented a new baby toy looking to license" should be sufficient to start generating interest.

There is always a risk with any NDA. Some companies may have their own version of it or you can get one from the web and customise. The biggest risk even with big companies is they say "we are already working on something similar". This unfortunately happens a lot. The only way to get around this is to beat them to it and get it made by their rival companies.

I know of some very successful toy inventors who have been scammed by very wll known companies I can't mention here due to fear of lawsuit.

Thanks, Inventoy

[ismail]

Again, many thanks for the prompt and informative reply.

I suppose there is the risk, but if it causes you to stop going forward with the idea; well you end up with nothing anyway.

So worth a shot.

[ismail]

Ok, have posted a message on two LinkedIn groups:

Toy Designers
New Baby and Children's Products

In the meantime I'm going to make a video of my nephew playing with it to go with the prototype itself.

[Inventoy]

Spotted your post on Toy Designers. Just the job. Hopefully you get some good contacts through those groups. If you don't get any leads I will try and help best I can via my own connections.

Thanks, Inventoy.

[ismail]

Many thanks, you have been most helpful and encouraging, just what someone who is very new to all this needs!

[ismail]

So one of the companies I emailed showed interest, asked me to send them an NDA, after which I sent them drawings, photos and videos of the prototype being played with by my nephew.

Unfortunately due to other products in the market they deem similar, they said it would not be worth them investing the time and money required to take on the product.

So what do you suggest? Contacting other companies?

I know the product is not unique, which is why I didn't think about going down the patent route, but do believe it combines certain attributes which makes it different from the other similar products on the market.

[Inventoy]

Hi Ismail,

My advice would be to carry on contacting other companies. If you believe your product is different enough then try and emphasise why yours is an improvement when pitching to the other companies.

Hope this helps and keep us posted of what happens next

Thanks, Inventoy.

[tolotoys]

Hi!
If you enjoy creation them, and produce more than the infants surrounded by your family and friends can use, there are forever hospitals and charitable organizations that distribute them to newborns and under par or needy kids......