What does an inventor do? First, you have a great idea. Then you decide whether or not it is worth pursuing. If it is, you make a number of prototypes in your workshop and prove the concept.

If the idea is too big you may need help. Before you show it to anyone, you get a good (i.e. high-priced) patent attorney to draft a binding document that prevents any partner from stealing your idea - especially if they are in a better position to develop it than yourself.
You may protect your invention with a patent at any time, but this costs money, especially if you want a watertight document drafted by your friendly attorney.
You now have a prototype, but need to convince someone that it is worth putting in to production. You need to be a salesman here, and most inventors are not. In the extremely unlikely event of finding such a backer, you now have to call that high-priced attorney again to draft you a sound licensing aggreement.
At any stage of this convoluted process you can loose control of your invention - and remember, most of the people you are dealing with can afford a better attorney than you can!

Here are some typical tales of invention...

1. The inventor of velcro made nothing from his invention. He did everything right, but the company that was developing it for production took so long that the patent expired!
   
2. Herr Porsche did not invent the Volkswagen. Details of a near identical "peoples car" were published in a German auto magazine in the mid-1920s. Its inventor was Bela Beryna - a young engineer who could not afford a patent. He went on make a number of important safety innovations for Mercedes Benz, and eventually took Porsche to court for stealing his idea. He won the case, but most people still think that Porsche invented the Beetle.
   
3. I can't be too specific about this one, but the answer to a very common car problem was invented and well protected by patents. Its owners then went and signed a promising looking licensing agreement that gave them:
   a) A rubber cheque for a large amount of money, and b). no royalties whatsoever! Presumably, the canny licensee is flooding the North American market with billions of this revolutionary widget and getting very rich.

Oh yes, and one more thing - your hot new idea may simply be stupid!

Here are some of my inventions. Hare-brained, grandoise, or maybe even viable - who knows? Steal them by all means.

Induced Drag Control in Large Aircraft

What?! Induced Drag Control? What does a jumped up graphic designer know of such things? Well - I am qualified in Aeronautical Engineering (i.e. I probably have just enough knowledge to be dangerous) and would welcome a critical examination of this idea from anyone well qualified in this area.
So - I offer a simple means of substantially reducing induced drag in large airliners.

It would allow ultra-low aspect ratio wing designs that would be as efficient as current subsonic airliners. This would give huge benefits in weight reduction, and available interior space. There is a current major research effort under way at Stanford University called the "Blended Wing Body" that gives some of these benefits.

The name "Blended Wing Body" describes it really, but it still has those pesky sailplane-like wings that are neccesary for efficient cruise.

My solution - lop them off! And then have two high bypass ratio turbofans blowing over the wingtips to stop those annoying vortices from forming. Note - the main propulsion engines would be under the rear of the wing, close to the centre line.

2. A snowboard any idiot can ride

This is a simple add-on device that makes a snowboard as easy to ride as a kiddies trike! It looks like one of those silver scooters - i.e. uncool, but the little shit who pushed in front of you in the lift queue will be laughing out the other side of his face when you beat him to the bottom of the hill! Its the revenge of the nerds on snow!

The secret is in the method of attachment to the board itself. If you want to know more email me.

Here are some more inventions....

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