Hartman Global helps local business secure three patents and counting

Michael Martinez first met the partners of Hartman Global IP Law firm, Domenica and Gary Hartman, at Purdue University through the Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center (CMEC). Since then, he’s worked with them to obtain patents for his CupN’Caddy product line.

“They’ve explained the process to me as necessary and have been a very positive force throughout the process,” said Martinez. “Their staff, Pete Dittoe and Christine Pisarki, have also been very kind and responsive to everything over the years. I can profoundly say I would not have made it this far without them in my corner.”

Together, Martinez and the Hartmans devised a plan for securing the patents for Martinez’s products that was expedient and easy to implement.

“We developed a workflow that has enabled us to secure five patents in three countries with one pending,” said Martinez. “The process normally consists of me calling in to simply prepare them for the 30+ pages of diagrams and emails I am about to send. I make it as simple for them as possible to understand the complexities of my mind, and we typically get everything sorted out in two phone calls.”

CupN’Caddy’s products include cup and plate holders built into outdoor chairs to make it easier to eat and drink without a table outside. Before meeting the Hartmans, Martinez found patenting his CupN’Caddy products very challenging.

“Honestly, it’s been a battle,” he said. “As most aspiring inventors do, I went to an invention company first. That didn’t go very well.”

Martinez started designing his products in 2015 using a tinker CAD app before taking courses in professional design software. Today he relies on this software.

By working alongside the Hartmans and through his own trial and error, Martinez has devised an overall strategy for his work. The workflow he created with the Hartmans is integrated into this larger strategy. Step one is to understand the problem. Then he derives a simple solution and pencil sketches dozens of possibilities. After this, he cycles and sorts in order to simplify his overall idea. Finally, he ties all the pieces together – sometimes resulting in him having to go back to the first step depending on how the components come together.

If the pieces tie together, he will 3D print a prototype which he then leans on to enhance aesthetics and structural integrity. Lastly, he researches the product’s manufacturability before designing diagrams of all of its components for the Hartmans to review.

Martinez was first inspired to design his own product line to spend more time with his family and get involved with the church his family established in Hammond.

Originally, Martinez is from Puerto Rico, and he still has family there. He wants to use his patents and products to give back to Puerto Rico and his local Northwest Indiana. Everything he creates he gives the glory back to God.

“Using my intellectual property, I am building a far more than just a ‘cushy’ lifestyle for my family,” he said. “We will be hand-on, boots-on-the-ground giving back with our time, talent and treasure, all for God’s glory. We are simply vessels for the abundance God provides.”

Martinez will continue to work with the Hartmans to register for more patents and secure products.
To learn more about CupN’Caddy, visit cupNcaddy.com.