Since June, United Patent Research (UPR) has been in contact with three companies that expressed interest in inventor Jeanie G.’s Uro Condom. UPR recently spoke with Jeanie G. and pointed her in the direction of twelve other potentially viable leads that she can use when participating in Universal Licensing’s transmittal kit program. We believe that Ms. G. has a product that is very licensable. It is even more attractive now that it is patent pending. Additionally, as a surgical nurse she knows first hand the benefits of her product versus the other catheter products currently on the market. We will be aggressively following up on the new leads that have been generated as well as with companies that we met at the MD & M Medical trade show in June.

Over the last several months, United Patent Research (UPR) has been assisting several inventors in constructing prototypes for the presentation of their product. Typically, UPR does not require or suggest that inventors have prototypes unless there is an interested company that absolutely insists on having one. In many cases, companies can get the gist of the product’s use and function without the inventor having to invest in a prototype. Michael O., inventor of the Cake Tent, has had two companies very interested in his invention since the International Home & Housewares and the National Hardware shows. Michael O. has gone through a lengthy process to get his Cake Tent prototype constructed. UPR has also assisted him in shooting a video that will be used for an upcoming presentation. The company which will be viewing the video owns at least ten major kitchen accessory companies and is a major player in the development of kitchen products. UPR has sent the video and the sample prototype to the company’s contact person, and we hope to have some feedback very shortly. Once UPR receives the sample prototype back, we will then forward it to the second interested company for review. This second company is a major player for “As Seen on Television” products as well as for housewares, hardware, and pet products. This company is a U.S. based company that also owns factories in China.

After the International Housewares Show, United Patent Research (UPR) followed up with a major “As Seen on TV” company and resubmitted a handful of products – a few of which received serious interest.  After many discussions, the interested company made the decision that they were going to take a deeper look at Comfy Soles, invented by Joanne B.  After trading several emails and having a brief meeting with them at the National Hardware Show, UPR was informed that the interested company’s marketing team is going to put together a small marketing test to run online to evaluate Comfy Soles. If the results of that test are positive, this company is prepared to enter negotiations regarding signing a licensing agreement.

At the National Hardware Show, United Patent Research (UPR) made a new contact with a major manufacturer who specializes in LED lighting and pneumatic, automotive, and hardware tools products. After a brief presentation to the president of the company, the president did not hesitate in signing a general Non-Disclosure Agreement with Universal Licensing to receive invention submissions on a regular basis. This company right now is seriously looking to expand its LED market and is anxious to meet with UPR to see what inventions we have available for licensing. After the meeting, I have to say, we were “licking our chops” because we have a lot more in LED lighting to present! We will be meeting with this company on a regular basis in the very near future.

At the National Hardware Show, United Patent Research (UPR) met with an East Coast electronics manufacturer who has licensing agreements with Stanley and Westinghouse. After UPR’s representative gave a very brief presentation, this manufacturer was interested in Isaac B.’s Generator Buddy, which uses GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) technology. This invention allows a portable generator to easily and safely supply electrical power to a home during a power outage using only one connection to the home. We have a handful of additional products which we will be presenting to this company.

At the National Hardware Show, United Patent Research (UPR) met with a company representative who is the gateway to a major tool company that has sales in excess of $3 billion! UPR was able to have a private meeting with this representative to present handpicked inventions which we felt would fit perfectly in this company’s product line. Of the eight products presented, four products were selected to be reviewed in the very near future. Three of those four products already have working prototypes. The four products are: Daniel P.’s Multi Hanging Clamp; Andy H.’s Mud Pan Cleaning Hook; Lee S.’s Knee Dolly; Alan P. & William C.’s Cool Chair. UPR will be following up with this representative and also, as a side note, this representative is also interested in Michael O.’s Cake Tent which was presented to him at the International Home & Housewares Show. This representative seemed very excited when he was informed that a prototype for the Cake Tent is under construction. We anticipate that this prototype will be available within the next several weeks.

Prior to the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, a major international company, with offices in Australia and the U.S., expressed interest in David B’s Kid Safe. United Patent Research (UPR) already has signed agreements in hand that allow us to provide detailed invention information to this company. While discussing Kid Safe, we presented a handful of products which we felt would fit their market niche. The Child Safety Plug/Charger Lock, invented by UPR client James P., interested them and they requested that we submit to them other products in that same category. We found one product that we feel would be perfect – Denise S’s Cord Loct. UPR will shortly be speaking with this manufacturer in order to determine other products that might be of interest to them.

At the National Hardware Show, United Patent Research (UPR) began its manufacturer contact activities by participating in a meeting with a major “As Seen on TV” retail company that UPR met with 2 months earlier at the Housewares Show in Chicago. We briefly discussed a product that they were interested in at the Housewares Show – Michael O.’s “Cake Tent”. UPR informed them that a prototype was under construction and we would be following up with them in the near future to discuss possible licensing arrangements. UPR also presented them with a package of products for their review. These were products that they had not seen before which we feel would fit beautifully into their market niche. We will shortly be following up with one of their vice presidents to discuss what products may be of interest. We understand that this manufacturer’s representative has returned from the corporate offices in Hong Kong and is interested in discussing products for 2017-2018.

In February, United Patent Research (UPR) met with a toy manufacturer at the Toy Fair that signed a pre-Non Disclosure Agreement (pre-NDA) at the event. In addition to submitting all of UPR’s toy products to this company for review, we became aware that this company has its marketing tentacles in other fields, especially hardware. After reviewing their website, UPR selected a handful of products that we felt would present this manufacturer with innovative new product conceptions that would fit their market niche perfectly. Just in the first batch, there were two products which inspired great interest from this company – Kenneth S.’s EZ Caulking Gun and Roger M.’s Screw Guide. Recently, UPR called Hong Kong to speak with the President of the company who oversees all the licensing. There were discussions about taking one of these products and presenting it to major hardware retailers in Asia as well as in Europe. UPR will be in contact with Universal Licensing, our licensing affiliate, to bring them up to speed. We will be ready to pass the ball over to Universal Licensing at the appropriate time for them to continue the negotiations. UPR will continue to be in contact with this interested manufacturer and make sure that all relevant documents are signed.

At the International Home and Housewares Show, United Patent Research (UPR) sat down with a North American manufacturer for the second time in 3 years. UPR is in the process of putting together a list of inventions that we feel will be of interest to this North American manufacturer that specializes in quality household cleaning products. We are hoping that after we make that submission they will respond positively and licensing negotiations with Universal Licensing can begin.