THE HUNT IS ON FOR
THE HUNT IS ON FOR
WORKSHOP WIZARDS!
ITS been nine years since farmers weekly started a farm inventions competition, and in that time it has developed into the industrys foremost "made it myself" contest.
Moreover, many of these designs go on to be marketed by the farmer or are taken up by commercial manufacturers. They therefore make an important contribution to the UK machinery industry.
This year we have again teamed up with Barclays Bank and the basics of the competition are the same as last year. This year, too, we have continued to clarify the patent protection position.
Once again were asking you to come up with another batch of clever, useful, time-saving tackle. If you have designed or built a machine in the last five years and would like other farmers to hear about it, get in touch with us.
As usual, were splitting the machines into three categories to give everyone an equal chance of winning.
• Simple: Typically these will be small gadgets that make life easier around the farm. They probably only took a few hours to make and didnt involve engines or complex hydraulics. First prize is £750, second prize is £300 and third prize is £150.
• Intermediate: Were looking for the more complicated designs here, but still not ones that have taken months to build. First prize is £750, second prize is £300 and third prize is £150.
• Complex. These are the real biggies, the inventions that kept you in the workshop when you should have been with your family! Typically, they involve major design work with engines, chassis and hydraulics. First prize is £750, second prize is £300 and third prize is £150.
Dont worry about which of the three groups your machine falls into. Just send in your entry and our judges will put it in the appropriate category.
Whether they are large or small, the machines should show evidence of imagination and the designers ability to solve technical problems. The invention should also have yielded measurable benefits for the farm or contracting business.
Entering the competition is simple. Fill in the accompanying coupon and send it in to us with photographs or drawing of the machine. Judging will take place in October.
Sending in details of an invention to FW will not prejudice your chances of gaining a patent on it, provided that you take the following steps, advised by the Institute of Chartered Patent Agents.
1. Entrants are reminded that any public disclosure of an invention before a patent application is filed can invalidate any patent later granted.
2. Accordingly, the organisers undertake to treat all entries in complete confidence prior to the announcement of competition results at the end of November 1999.
3. Irrespective of (2) above, any individual considering patent protection should submit his or her entry in a double envelope, the inner securely sealed and clearly marked "Competition entry – patent application likely".
4. All entrants will receive a free information pack on patent application procedures from the Institute of Chartered Patent Agents.
Barclays FW Inventions Competition
Surname …………………………… First name ……………………………………
Address ……………………………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………….. Post code ……………………………………………
Telephone number …………………………………………..
Farmer …. Farm manager …. Farm worker …. Contractor …. (tick)
Farm size and type…………………………………………………………………………
When was the invention built?…………………………………………………………….
Tick relevant box
Did you: Design it? …. Build it? …. Both? ….
Roughly how many working days did it take to make? ………..
How does it work? Please give a brief explanation and provide drawings/photos. Include details on a separate sheet if necessary.
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What benefits has it brought to the farm or contracting business?
Include details on a separate sheet if necessary.
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Cut out this coupon and post it to: Barclays/FW Inventions Competition, Farmers Weekly, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS.
All photographs/drawings will be returned. Closing date is Oct 15 1999.
RULES
1. All entries will be examined by a panel of judges who will award the first prize in each category to the entrant who demonstrates the best invention in terms of benefits to the farm or contracting business, good design, imagination and the inventors ability to solve technical problems. Three runner-up prizes and three third prizes will be awarded on the same basis.
2. Decisions of the judges are final, as are those of the Editor in all other matters affecting the competition. No correspondence can be entered into and entry implies acceptance of the rules as legally binding.
3. The competition is open to all farmers, farm managers, farm workers and contractors. Entrants must have reached the age of 16 on July 1 1999.
4. The winners and runners-up will be notified and the results published in farmers weekly.