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“Through the whole process, I actually began to see my design turn into a prototype, and now my prototype might actually become a patented reality. By the end, I was so happy that I had chosen to take a chance on myself and do something that brought my engineering and hooping life together.”
—Danielle McIntosh
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“I thought of this product two years ago—I wrote it down and kind of forgot about it for awhile. And I realized that if I didn’t do it, I’d always regret it, so I just decided to pursue it. The competition is a great outlet for anyone interested in innovation and development. The experience gives you the tools to develop the idea and the confidence to continue.”
—Daniel Gartenberg
May I enter with teammates?
Yes, students can enter either individually or with a team.
If you enter with a team, you are stipulating that all team members share equally in ownership of the invention.
Also, if you enter something that was worked on in a team, all members of the team must be part of the Schoofs entry or the entry will be declared ineligible for the competition.
Please review Rule #2 on Qualifying Ideas to ensure that you understand that if you enter a project that you've worked on in a course that your team may not comprise students who are also enrolled in the same course.
May I enter with more than one invention? You may. However, past experience has shown that it's very difficult for these multiple entries to be competitive. That's because it's time consuming to create just one competitive entry, much less two. (Remember, almost all of your competitors will have spent all their time on one entry and have a considerable advantage.) Students considering more than one entry may want to choose their best one and concentrate on that invention for their first year in the competition. Then the second invention can be developed and entered next year.
Must I create a prototype of my invention?
A prototype is required to compete for the Tong Prototype Prize.
You do not need to develop a prototype to compete for the Schoofs Prize for Creativity - with one exception.
Students who worked on their invention in a class must submit a prototype.
Please refer to Rule #2 on Qualifying Ideas for more information.
We encourage prototyping because it can greatly enhance your learning experience.
It doesn't have to be a sophisticated, fully operational prototype — just something that indicates you have thought through the physical creation and operation of your invention.
I want to create a prototype, but I don't have money to buy materials. What do I do?
You may apply for a
Tong Prototype Loan.
Up to $500 is available for students registered to compete to assist in building a prototype.
Students who apply for a loan, build a prototype and follow through in competing on judging day will not be required to pay the loan back.
A student who accepts a loan and then does not compete on judging day or fails to create a prototype will be required to pay back the loan.
All students who register for Innovation Day will receive instructions on how to apply for a Tong Prototype Loan via email shortly after the registration deadline has passed.
Can my invention be something I worked on in class?
Students who wish to submit an invention that they worked on in a course at the UW must understand and adhere to rule #2 on Qualifying Ideas.
Class projects are not allowed in the competition unless an individual can prove with witnessed documentation that the idea was formed at least six (6) months prior to the start of the course.
Teams of students from the same course or class project cannot enter the competition.
If forming a team based on a class project, a student who can prove that his or her idea was formed at least six (6) months prior to the start of the course must select team members from outside of that class.
The team or contestant submitting a class project will also be required to submit a prototype in the Tong Prototype Prize competition.
How can I be sure that my invention hasn't been done before?
The contest administrator cannot provide consulting on patent questions/issues. For information on patents and patenting, consult:
The United States Patent and Trademark Office
http://www.uspto.gov
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
http://www.warf.ws/index.jsp
Kurt F. Wendt Library
Nancy Spitzer, patent librarian
Room 313 Kurt F. Wendt Library
608/265-9802
spitzer@engr.wisc.edu
My team has already applied for a patent on our invention. May we still compete?
You may compete in the Schoofs Prize for Creativity only if all people named in the patent application are eligible to compete.
Examples of people who would not be eligible are students who have already graduated by the entry deadline date, graduate students, faculty and university staff and anyone who is not a registered undergraduate, including industry representatives.
Also, if you have already applied for a patent when you turn in your entry, you must disclose that fact in your entry and submit a copy of the patent application.
Are we required to apply for a patent to compete?
No, patent application is not required.
However, we recommend that each team investigate the patent process and consider whether they wish to take that step to protect ownership of their invention.
There will be an Innovation Day seminar to cover patents during the fall semester.
For information on patents and patenting, consult:
The United States Patent and Trademark Office
http://www.uspto.gov
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
http://www.warf.ws/index.jsp
Kurt F. Wendt Library
Nancy Spitzer, patent librarian
Room 313 Kurt F. Wendt Library
608/265-9802
spitzer@engr.wisc.edu
I worked on my invention with a partner who has already graduated. May I enter the invention myself?
No, this invention would not be eligible.
All co-developers must be listed as team members and must be eligible for the competition.
In this case, a student who has already graduated is not eligible for the competition.
(Students who are enrolled full time during the fall semester and graduate in December are still eligible to compete as long as they will be present on competition day in February.)
I can't attend all the required seminars — may I still compete?
Seminars offered in conjunction with Innovation Day are required for all contestants.
Seminars will be available on the College Mediasite in the folder College of Engineering > Engineering > Innovation Days for online viewing the day after, for students who are unable to attend a seminar in person due to a scheduling conflict with a UW related course.
Seminars are designed to provide contestants with information relevant to understanding the invention and design process, prototyping, patent law and how to protect your intellectual property and much more.
All students will benefit from participating.
I'll be out of town in February on the day of the competition. Can I still compete?
No.
All students must be present for the competition and judging in order to compete.
Exceptions may be made for students who are part of a team and are out on co-op or studying abroad on the day of the competition and cannot return to Madison.
Contestants who can not be present on competition day because of one of those reasons must notify the contest administrator and request an exemption to this rule prior to the submission deadline in January.)
Is it OK if I turn in my application or completed project a little late?
The deadlines above are absolute — no exceptions will be made.
You must turn your application and projects in on time, or you will be out of the competition.
Do I have to turn in my prototype with the rest of my entry?
No, your prototype is not due until the day of the competition.
How do I register for the
Schoofs Prize for Creativity?
The only way to register is electronically, on-line, at the competition website.
This website also contains important information on the required seminars and rules for the competition.
How do I register for the
Tong Prototype Prize?
Separate registration is not required to compete for the
Tong Prototype Prize.
The contest administrator will contact all registered
Schoofs Prize for Creativity
contestants to determine which entries will submit prototypes for the
Tong
competition.
What kinds of things belong in my Ideas Notebook?
Past
Schoofs
winner Chad Sorenson offers these tips:
BE VISUAL with your description of your idea development. The sketch is the language of the engineer; be sure to sign each page and have it signed by a non-inventing individual who understands the development of your work.
Stay current with your documentation and do it just as much for your own purposes as for the patent office.
If you want to get nit-picky, excessive scribbles to void errors, etc. should be avoided. Use only a singular line through mistakes, and initial and date any corrections. Also, they like it if you sign across inserted pieces to verify it was added to the lab book at that time.
Blank space should be voided with a single line before moving on.
MORE QUESTIONS?
Send them to
innovation@engr.wisc.edu.
