From Patent Pending to Kickstarter Success: The Bold Q&A on Sliding Door Security & Trademarks

Bold Inventor

In this episode of The Bold Inventor Show, patent attorney J.D. Houvener and trademark attorney Matt Kulseth open with a rapid-fire Q&A on patents and trademarks — covering the tricky realities of co-inventors, domain name disputes, and whether provisional patents are worth it.

But the spotlight turns to special guest Jimmy W (Wanichsuksombat) is the inventive mind behind Step-in-Lock — a sleek, ergonomic device that turns a simple sliding door into a fortress. What began as a frustration with wooden sticks and flimsy locks in 2019 has grown into a patented invention, a viral Kickstarter campaign with 500+ backers, and $55K in pledges.

Jimmy takes listeners through his five-year journey from provisional filing in the middle of COVID to full patent grant in 2024. Along the way, he battled Wi-Fi hiccups, doubts about viability, and the challenges of manufacturing hardware with razor-thin margins. He shares what it’s like to bootstrap with a spouse as co-inventor, why Kickstarter was his litmus test for market validation, and how strangers pledging money gave him the confidence to push forward.

The conversation also dives into the business side of IP:

• Why timing your provisional vs. non-provisional patent filing is critical.
• How USPTO trademark refusals don’t mean the end of the road.
• Why energy and confidence are as important as legal filings when bringing an invention to life.

If you’ve ever thought about protecting your big idea, crowdfunding your product, or just wondered how to go from sketch to patent to sales — this episode offers both a reality check and a roadmap.

📌 Key Takeaways

• ⚖️ Co-inventor conflicts are common — and forming a company early can avoid messy disputes.
• 🌐 Domains don’t matter like they used to — but trademarks still carry real legal weight.
• 📝 Provisional ≠ Patent — it’s just a placeholder; you must follow through.
• 🚪 Step-in-Lock proves hardware can win on Kickstarter — 500 backers and $55K raised.
• 💡 Validation matters — test ideas with real customers sooner than later.
• 🔑 Energy and confidence keep inventors moving forward — IP is a marathon, not a sprint.

🎬 Teasers

• What happens when co-inventors disagree on how to handle a patent?
• Why a provisional patent might be a waste of money (or the smartest move).
• How Jimmy turned a stick-in-the-door hack into a patented product.
• The single design feature that got Step-in-Lock “over the line” with the USPTO.
• Why Kickstarter validation mattered more than the patent itself.

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DISCLAIMER
Everything discussed on this podcast is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.