My Healthy Life

Inventions, Innovations and Entrepreneurship

Innovative. Unfamiliar. Novel. Cutting-edge. Unusual. What do all these adjectives have in common? Each has likely been used to describe a conceptual idea or brainchild. For the pioneer, the path is new and waiting to be explored. Perhaps the journey is precisely where curiosity, invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship intersect.

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner has been called the forgotten Black woman inventor for revolutionizing the menstrual pad. In 1954, Kenner was issued a patent for the sanitary belt. It started because of her ability and willingness to use her own experiences to think differently, to wonder, “what if?” With over 181 issued patents myself, I, now more than ever, understand why curiosity, invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship can be so powerful at every level. Whether it was nature or nurture, I grew up in a household with a mom and dad who both had a great impact on my love for inventing. Though he never attended mechanic school, I can vividly remember my father always fixing things around the house. My dad was adept at repairing everything from plumbing to electrical issues in our home and the homes of close friends. I watched him take things apart and put them back together, and it fueled my curiosity and interest in invention early. Most can agree that invention, the primary reason we enjoy so many of the modern conveniences we currently have, is a great thing. But why does it matter so much to have intellectual property formalized as a recognized patent? In short, potential advantage. Patents give the owner the ability to restrict others from using, making, or selling the patent’s idea. In some sense, a patent provides a time-limited monopoly. It is an undeniable asset, and the list of benefits regarding patents is extensive. Even if a patent owner elects not to take the product or idea to market, it becomes an asset that can be sold or licensed. Many tech companies have huge patent portfolios, which allows for assignment and licensing opportunities, and

Ruthie D. Lyle, Ph.D. Principal Technical Patent Architect NVIDIA

There is not a single set of people that has the market for invention. It is available to anyone who is observant, inquisitive, sensitive to problems, and willing to learn.

startups consider patent assets in funding strategies. Put simply, well-drafted and appropriately prosecuted patents are powerful and valuable. It would be one-sided not to mention that the act of acquiring a patent requires competence in patent prosecution, among other costs, which is an expensive endeavor. The objective should always be to ask yourself, “Should I pursue a patent for this idea?” and “What do I hope to do with the patent asset once it is issued?”

Acquiring a patent is not a lofty goal. However, like any pursuit and subsequent decision in life, expertise, and experience go a long way toward making good decisions. With that said, every journey begins somewhere. I urge young people to realize and remember that great ideas can originate from almost anyone. There is not a single set of people that has the market for invention. It is available to anyone who is observant, inquisitive, sensitive to problems, and willing to learn. If you can take your personal experiences and couple them with concepts, you are learning in other areas together with lateral thinking, you are already on the cusp of unique and potentially inventive ideas. Remember Kenner? She was a woman who sought to improve something she experienced. While her invention may not seem like a big deal today, it was quite significant. In this case, it can be viewed as a liberating cultural outcome. Women who would have been in the home were able to go into the workplace, all because one woman dared to wonder, “What if I could do this?” She might not have even had the foresight to say, “What might it enable?” But her action helped lay the groundwork for change. That is a visionary in action who herself may not have seen the entire vision at the time.

So, how should you start? That is simple. Purpose within yourself to be observant, understand what has already been done, and question what is possible. Write out the problem, the solution, and how you believe your solution is different from what someone skilled in the space would know or find obvious. If you believe you have a good idea, document it to the best of your ability. Do not make a public disclosure, and should you choose partnerships, those who will share the cost for pursuing ownership of a resulting patent, choose wisely. Seek out the advice of an expert, like a patent attorney or agent. They may be able to help you determine the viability of the idea. Remember, patent expertise comes at a cost, so be prepared to invest if you want to be the owner of the resulting patent. Organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) or the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) may be able to help you find mentors. Your employer or participation in a startup incubator may be a great place to cultivate mentoring relationships. Having patents adds to the strength of your ability to have exclusivity in a particular space. The value they add to a business cannot be overstated. The realized invention is what creates the innovation in the world around us, thought by uncharted thought. Patents are a reward for individuals refusing to accept limits on what is possible. I hope more people of color dare to dream boundlessly. That is where the magic of invention lies.

Disclaimer: This article does not reflect the opinion of sentiments of NVIDIA. This article does not constitute professional advice or specific suggested action on the part of the reader. This article does reflect, in general, the author’s opinion.