Saturday, August 22, 2015

MY INVENTION LAST NIGHT was already taken


Last night I apparently invented something that was already (just in the past couple years) invented! Have you ever had that experience?

I happened to be vacuuming the house using one of those vacuums with a hose and an attachment piece. I had a sudden epiphany, what if I could use my own, home vacuum as a microdermabrasion machine? As someone who has worked in the aesthetics industry for several years—at both spas and at a dermatology clinic—I know how important suction is in the field of skincare. I also know how expensive these machines cost! These machines cost a minimum of $5,000- $10,000 a piece! In addition to working at the hospital, I have been tinkering with the idea of starting my own Home Spa business sometime after the baby is born. Equipment would be my big business expense and so this was currently on my mind.

I have worked with several pricey skincare machines that utilize different degrees of skin suctioning. These machines are effective in pore cleansing, improving skin texture, reducing acne scars and they also have anti-aging benefits like stimulating fibroblastic activity in the dermis which helps with collagen regeneration. A few of these machines include: the hydrafacial machine, the microdermabrasion machine and the Isolaz Laser machine. Another field where suctioning is used is in nursing; nurses use wound vacs to help expedite the healing of wounds. 

As I thought about all the possibilities I decided that I wanted to use my vacuum as microdermabrasion machine. I thought about designing a prototype attachment to apply to the tip of the hose that could then be used on the skin. All I would need would be a plastic attachment and then the diamond-head microdermabrasion tip that could be applied to the attachment. I found a funnel in my kitchen that would temporarily serve as my first rough “prototype attachment” to the vacuum cleaner hose. I applied it to the vacuum hose—it fit perfectly! Next, I turned the vacuum on medium-low and then tested it out on my skin. The degree of suctioning was perfect! In fact, it worked EXACTLY, if not BETTER than the expensive microdermabrasion machines that I had been using at the spa all along!

I was ecstatic! I told my husband about my idea and he looked at me kind of funny. I didn’t care, for some reason I knew I had a good idea. But then, my exuberance faded dramatically as I searched the internet and saw that SOMEONE ELSE HAD ALREADY INVENTED EXACTLY WHAT I HAD JUST INVENTED IN MY HEAD!!!!  GRRR

Here it is available on Amazon:

Here is a youtube video that basically shows exactly the model that I had envisioned:


 Yeah, I know. This kind of thing has happened to us all before. We're just a bit too late. This is just a reminder that your idea might not be as dumb as you (or others) think it is—especially when you see that someone else has a pending patent on it and is starting to sell it on Amazon.

18 comments:

  1. Unfortunately, stories like this happen aaaallllllll the time. My father swears up and down he came up with the idea for a movie that eventually came out. He did not write it down, he just thought about it. The movie came out in the 80s called Red Dawn and it was pretty much as he pictured his idea.

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    1. Yep! Waay too true!! I guess with a population of several billion it is more than likely for several people around the globe to come up with the same (or similar) idea. That's why there is always a race

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    2. Now, just because someone came up with a similar idea (at least in creative medias) that does not mean you can bring out you version to it. That is how we have genres. Sure everybody know Harry Potter. But one year before that was released, Vertigo Comics (a division of DC Comics) brought out a series that had a similar premise called Books of Magic. The story involves a kid, from England, with glasses and dark hair, has just found out that he has magical abilities. Despite similarities, the series went off in a different direction than Harry Potter. Books of magic are comics aimed at more mature audiences and takes place in the DC universe while Harry Potter is aimed at younger audiences.

      http://www.amazon.com/The-Books-Magic-Neil-Gaiman/dp/1401246869

      When it comes to creative medias, you have to be careful not to be to much similar to another ones creativity. Many people have tried to sue others on products they claim are practically copies of others work.

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  2. to get to the finish line first before you get accused of plagiarism, stealing someone else's idea/invention.

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  3. and, the toughest part might not even be the idea/invention itself but going through all the hard work to patent and market the idea/product. That's where the grunt work comes in.

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  4. You can look at it in one way though. You may not make money off you device, But you did not have to spend thousand of dollars on something that works the same you made yourself.

    So, if you are serious on making your own health care business you just save money on set up. Less to draw from a business loan.

    On the other hand, some people make look at you odd for using makeshift equipment in a official business that is not what they expect a professional would have.
    "You made that out of a vacumn cleaner? Why don't you get a real device for that?"

    You know that sort of reaction.

    So you may have to dress it up a bit to make it more "official" despite the same effectiveness.

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    1. I wanted to let you know John that we are SO THANKFUL to you for sending us the baby gifts!!!! We opened them up today (just received them today) and LOVE them! My husband has been wanting those spoons for a long time now. He saw them a while back and thought they looked so cool. :) That was so incredibly sweet of you and we want you to know how much we appreciate your kindness. --Renee and hubby

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    2. Your welcome. Apparently a couple of the items on your list are restricted from traveling from the U.S to your address. I tried to purchase the health and grooming kit and the baby stroller but amazon won't let me. This may be problematic for other items on your registry from you those in the U.S.

      Hope those items I was able to get turn out all right.

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    3. I found a way around this. Wait a few days.

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    4. Oh John! You seriously don't have to get us anything else! We are so thankful for everything right now. Please, please! What you have sent is wonderful!
      Yes, there are lots of restrictions to sending things to our address Also, we were given a nice, used stroller that will work.

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    5. John, I just talked to my husband. He says No, please don't send us anything else.We appreciate your kindness.

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    6. Look, please cancel this immediately.

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    7. Can you please not send us anything. You need to cancel this.

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    8. What a kind gesture, John!!!

      It's partly your thoughtful commentary along with Renee's insights that brought me back here today (after a year's absence).

      Lately, I've found myself wondering what motivates me to do the same---express in some tangible way my appreciation for women in my life I work with that I have, or at least believe I have no designs on. (I'm single and heterosexual.)

      My answer? Lonelinesss. It's actually not something to fear or try to evade but to accept and embrace.

      I too find Renee's blog comments so refreshing in their honesty and inquisitiveness---that I can fully appreciate the level of platonic intimacy that would motivate you to do what you've done--I attribute no selfish motivation on your part.

      It's such a stark contrast from the acerbic commentary so pervasive online.

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  5. Okay, just accept this and that is it. Just letting you know I care. It's good. Gives you options. It's almost there anyway. Just please take this and I'll stop.

    Alright?

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    1. Thankyou John for your generosity but we already have a stroller. We will have to send it back if we get it. Please cancel the order.

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    2. For the record. It's not a stroller. could not get one. I just said that I found a way around it. However, when you get this and still want to return it, no hard feelings.

      Okay?

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