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Pipe clip trouble

Tim the plumber

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I have an idea for a new type of pipe clip. It's not much, not rocket science, but it would make my job a little easier and I think it could be slightly cheaper to make than the ones I use today.

It's just a piece of 8mm bar with a thread on either end, a couple of bends and then zinc coated.

I have been told that the price to get it made here in the UK is above the 16p price of the present system and that I could probably get it done in the third world.

How do I contact such manufacturers?
 
I have an idea for a new type of pipe clip. It's not much, not rocket science, but it would make my job a little easier and I think it could be slightly cheaper to make than the ones I use today.

It's just a piece of 8mm bar with a thread on either end, a couple of bends and then zinc coated.

I have been told that the price to get it made here in the UK is above the 16p price of the present system and that I could probably get it done in the third world.

How do I contact such manufacturers?

Patent first..............or it will be ripped by whoever you show it to.
 
Patent first..............or it will be ripped by whoever you show it to.

Well yes, the NDA thing I am using will not be enough if I go over seas but it's a very small market and I don't expect it to actually make that much money so without me it would probably not be worth while doing at all. Very small market.
 

Well yes, the NDA thing I am using will not be enough if I go over seas but it's a very small market and I don't expect it to actually make that much money so without me it would probably not be worth while doing at all. Very small market.
There are two paths, both start with looking to see if the idea is out there already.
If you want to try for a patent, start by building a prototype.
If you just want to keep someone else for patenting the idea, write up an article and send it to a magazine
to publish, once an idea is in the public domain, it cannot be patented without significant change.
 

Well yes, the NDA thing I am using will not be enough if I go over seas but it's a very small market and I don't expect it to actually make that much money so without me it would probably not be worth while doing at all. Very small market.

If it's that small a market then is the price difference actually a factor?
 
If it's that small a market then is the price difference actually a factor?

Yes. It has to be made for less than 17p.

The volume is of the order of 4,000 per month plus for the company I work for. About 4 such companies in the UK.
 
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