Inventor: Austin R.
Background: Mechanical Engineering graduate, Columbia University
Company: SWERV (swervair.com)
Innovation: Portable residential fresh air ventilation system with energy recovery
Inspired by his experience helping to design HVAC systems for large commercial buildings, Austin recognized a serious gap in the residential space: Indoor air quality in homes was often worse than in schools or hospitals, and few affordable, energy-efficient solutions were available for purchase.
He set out to change that, developing a sleek, energy-recovering ventilation unit that fits in a window like an A/C unit. Unlike traditional systems, it brings in fresh air from outside while maintaining indoor temperature and humidity.
The IP challenge
As Austin moved from idea to prototype, he knew intellectual property protection would be critical.
“If I wanted to commercialize this, I knew I needed to patent it,” he said. “I wanted my IP to be broad enough to protect what I was doing but also specific enough not to infringe on other patents.”
The patent landscape was unfamiliar territory, and hiring an IP attorney for a full search wasn’t an option at the idea stage. So, he explored free tools.
“I started with Google Patents and ChatGPT,” Austin said. “But Google’s search engine was super frustrating. I’d search all the right keywords, and relevant patents wouldn’t even come up. ChatGPT helped a little, but sometimes it hallucinated patents that didn’t exist.”
FluidityIQ and a key find
That’s when Austin turned to FluidityIQ—an accurate, cost-effective patent search platform. “I reached out because I was having a lot of issues with free tools, and I wasn’t ready to pay a lawyer since my idea was still in the very early stages. FluidityIQ gave me another way to move forward.”
Austin’s search in FluidityIQ surfaced a key patent—missed by other platforms—that was strikingly similar to his design. “That one was the closest thing I’d seen to my device. It forced me to narrow my claims a bit but also reassured me that what I had was still unique.”
More confidence, action
Using FluidityIQ gave Austin more than just information. It gave him insight and peace of mind.
“It definitely gave me more confidence submitting the provisional patent. It made me feel like the time I was investing was worth it.”
Austin will consult an IP attorney before a full patent filing, but FluidityIQ helped him take the first step on his own. He recommended it to a fellow inventor.
“I told my classmate, ‘Google Patents is really hard to use. This tool actually brings up stuff that’s similar to your idea and then also explains why it’s relevant.’ That’s huge when you’re just starting out.”
The takeaway
For independent inventors trying to understand the IP landscape around their innovation without breaking the bank, FluidityIQ offers a smarter, faster way forward.
As in Austin’s case, intelligence from the platform can help solo innovators get clarity on key business questions such as whether someone has patented something similar; what technology exists in the field and who it belongs to; where opportunities exist to further differentiate an idea, and whether it’s worth investing in filing a patent application.
Ready to get started and see for yourself? Visit FluidityIQ.com
