Patents
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Products
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Potential Market
According to our survey results, slightly over 77% of the 239 people that we surveyed were interested in buying a small product that would provide portable seating. Most of the data from our survey was anonymous over the Internet through various social media platforms, but the rest of our data came from people who live on Delmarva. Of the total 239 people, 95% claimed that a lack of seating was a problem, but not all of them wanted to buy a product to solve the problem. Specifically in urban areas, 50% of the total population ride the metro/bus, and 14% of those reported complaints about the seating while waiting for the train/bus to arrive. Interest seems to be lower in urban areas as people are used to standing in a line, but in rural areas it seems that people are more lazy and want to sit.
Summary
To find patents we used the Google Patent Search and extended the search results to go as far back as possible. When we searched we used key phrases such as: chair, seating, portable, folding, and extending. The search for patents guided us as it showed us how some of the designs failed due to sturdiness or size of the portable seating. To find existing products we started our search on Amazon.com and Kickstarter.com to look for products that fit the same key phrases and were on sale. We also found products by searching furniture store websites looking at the outdoor seating and lounging sections. From the existing products we learned that the final design must come with a sleek design, a catchy name or phrase, and must be a good price. To find the information for the potential market I used the survey that our group made and existing research studies of metropolitan areas and how most of their mornings are spent standing around waiting. From the research on the potential markets I learned that our product needs to be more appealing to the high population of people in urban areas.