Cleanliner
2024, Licensing pitch
In 2024, I began developing my own product concepts with the goal of licensing them to suitable companies. If a company sees commercial potential in a concept, we can negotiate licensing terms enabling them bring the product to market, in exchange for a commission on units sold. 'The Cleanliner' is my first attempt at designing a product to license. Essentially, it is a marker pen with a brush integrated in the cap, intended as a dual-purpose tool for technicians, engineers and tradespeople. It was born out of a frustration that I experience when installing medical devices on site.
PROCESS
Problem
When working in dusty environments like construction sites, it can be problematic to use a marker pen. In most scenarios a pencil, chalk or paint pen is a better option - but occasionally a marker pen is still required. In my use-case, I need a fine line that can be seen from a distance, to accurately align lasers. When marking on dirty surfaces though, the pen nib would get ruined very quickly.
By adding a brush to the cap of the pen, the user can quickly dust the surface before marking. While a brush is useful for this specific use case, there are many other times when you need a brush but don't have one handy. While I pitched this concept as a marker pen + brush, the brush element could be combined with any other type of marking implement. A pen or pencil is something that all tradespeople will carry in their toolbelt or pocket, and the addition of a brush doesn't add much bulk.
Intellectual Property
Before I could develop this product, I needed to validate whether there was any prior art (existing product, design, patent, description etc). It was a really interesting experience to figure out how patents work in-depth and put my training into practice. I used tools like Google Patents, USPTO, EspaceNet to search for related inventions. I discovered some adjacent prior art that was somewhat relatable, but no direct conflicts.
It is debatable whether this invention could be issued a patent, but the primary goal here is to establish ownership over the idea. By obtaining a patent-pending status, companies who I speak to will be less inclined to cut me out of the deal, if they know in future I could have a patent issued. Also, it helps to show that you're serious and invested in the idea.
I filed for a PPA (Provisional Patent Application) with the USPTO, which grants an automatic 12-month 'pending' status. After which, I must decide whether to pursue a non-provisional patent. Fortunately, this US-based PPA is also recognised in other jurisdictions.
Prototyping
Fortunately, this was a very easy project to prototype. I modified existing markers/pencils by adding bristles to the caps or ends, which was an effective method for testing. Unfortunately, I didn't have any installation projects during this period in which I could test it on-site.
Design
The design and branding of the concept is primarily to visualise it. All manufacturers of marking implements have their own product lines, which it would need to integrate with. Therefore, I didn't spend too much time developing a design for it. I thought a sliding cover will make the brush more unified with the cap. I modelled a quick mockup in 3D and created a couple of renders.
The main asset a product developer needs in order to license a product idea, is a 'sell sheet'. This is a one-page overview that demonstrates the product and it's key benefits. The following is my sell sheet for The Cleanliner.
Pitching
The development phase might have been easy, but the pitching phase was not! Initially, I had an immediate response from two top firms on LinkedIn. They were ideal candidates and I was amazed how easily I could get through to key decision-makers.
