| Field | Ask it like this | Say first (if any) | Required | Order | Answer | Context | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| invention | Tell me about your invention. | No introductory text needed for sample | yes | 1 | Basic C1: Standard mechanical catch-and-release trap for one mouse; manual checks and manual release. | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| problem | What does it do better than what people use now? | No introductory text needed for sample | yes | 2 | Adult homeowners are users/buyers; manual checking and reluctance to kill are unvalidated needs | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| customer | Who do you picture buying and using it? | No introductory text needed for sample | yes | 3 | Adult homeowners | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| where-used | Where does it get used: home, outdoors, a shop, a vehicle? | No introductory text needed for sample | yes | 4 | Home wall/floor placement; empty and occupied transport; dry storage; manual release only after permission | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| stage | How far along are you: an idea, a sketch, a model, something that works? | No introductory text needed for sample | yes | 5 | Idea C1 only; no working unit | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| spent-so-far | About how much have you spent on it so far, if anything? | No introductory text needed for sample | no | 6 | $0 committed/paid; all figures hypothetical | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| goal | What would you like to happen with it: a few for yourself and friends, sell it, license it to a company? | No introductory text needed for sample | yes | 7 | Validate before future sale | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| dates | Are there any dates coming up: when you'd like to see it working, show it, talk to a buyer or supplier, or have it for sale? | A timeline lets us see which risks we have time to deal with. | yes | 7 | 2026-12-15 Basic; 2027-02-15 Hotel; 2027-06-15 Drone scenario review targets | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| quality-bar | For that first date, how good does it need to be: looks right, works, or ready to sell? | No introductory text needed for sample | no | 7 | Surrogate bench evidence; no ready-to-sell date | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| hold-which | If a date slips, which do you keep: the date, the money, or how well it works? | Not asked at intake. Asked every time a problem forces a trade-off (standing.txt, WORKING A TICKET). Fill it only if they say it on their own. | no | 10 | No forced trade-off yet; welfare/safety and budget reviewed at gate | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| similar | What's out there now that does the same job, even roughly? | No introductory text needed for sample | no | 8 | Search categories recorded, but no patent search or known document citation asserted | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| buyers-said | Has anyone who'd buy it seen it or said they want it? | No introductory text needed for sample | no | 8 | No buyer seen or contacted | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| budget | What budget can you put into the next few months? | No introductory text needed for sample | no | 8 | $15000 feasibility cap proposed, not committed | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| time | How much time can you give it in a usual week? | No introductory text needed for sample | no | 8 | Proposed 10 founder hours/week; no staffing engagement | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S2-medical | Does it treat, diagnose or monitor a health problem? | (screening-questions.csv row 2) | if not clear | 9 | No health, disease-prevention, diagnostic or treatment claim; FDA route excluded from scope | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S3-aircraft | Does it fly, or go on a drone or aircraft? | (row 3) | if not clear | 9 | No — neither flies nor attaches to aircraft; aviation route excluded | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S4-vehicle | Does it go on a car or truck? | (row 4) | if not clear | 9 | No — no vehicle mounting; automotive route excluded | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S5-government | Would the government or military buy it? | (row 5) | if not clear | 9 | No government or military buyer; procurement route excluded | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S7-wall-power | Does it plug into the wall? | (row 7) | if not clear | 9 | No power source | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S8-electronics | Does it have a battery, a circuit board or software? | (row 8) | if not clear | 9 | No battery/circuit/software | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S9-wireless | Does it connect to a phone or anything wireless? | (row 9) | if not clear | 9 | No radio or fast digital host | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S10-machine | Is it a machine, or used in a shop or factory? | (row 10) | if not clear | 9 | Consumer trap; not industrial machinery; internal prototype fixtures still need safe procedures | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S11-water | Are you worried about it getting wet? | (row 11) | if not clear | 9 | Yes — empty shell washed; wash/aging checks planned | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S12-children | Would kids use it? | (row 12) | if not clear | 9 | Not intended for children; keep inaccessible; foreseeable use review still needed | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S13-food-skin | Does it touch food, the mouth, or skin for a long time? | (row 13) | if not clear | 9 | No food/mouth or prolonged skin contact; captive bait pocket is not human food use | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S14-hand-use | Do people hold it or use it over and over by hand? | (row 14) | if not clear | 9 | Yes — grip, set, inspect, carry and release; ergonomics trial planned | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S15-hazard | What's the worst thing that could happen with it? | (row 15) | yes | 9 | Pinch, bites, contamination, small parts and animal distress; manual handling risk | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S16-shipping | Will you ship it to people? | (row 16) | if not clear | 9 | Yes — shipping/drop checks planned; no package qualification | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S17-where-sold | Where would you like to see it sold first? | (row 17) | if not clear | 9 | U.S. own website, independent hardware, Amazon; no export; Drone no commercial sales | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S18-named-standard | Has anyone asked for a certification or standard? | (row 18) | if not clear | 9 | No buyer named standard; internal quality tools are not ISO/automotive certification | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S22-other-brand | Is it made to fit or work with someone else's product? | (row 22) | if not clear | 9 | No third-party brand fit claim | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S23-industry | Is it for a particular industry, like railroad, mining, marine or a food plant? | (row 23) | if not clear | 9 | Home/property use; no mining/rail/hospital/hazardous environment claims | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S24-materials | Will it have electronics, or be sold in Europe or California? | (row 24) | if not clear | 9 | U.S. materials scope including California to review; resin declarations needed; no chemical certification | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S25-battery | Does it have a lithium battery? | (row 25) | if not clear | 9 | No battery; no battery shipping route | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S26-drawings | Will someone else make parts from your drawings or CAD files? | (row 26) | if not clear | 9 | Yes — proposed purchased tooling/parts; drawings and exact supplier process require engineering release | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S19-company | Have you thought about starting a company to protect yourself from liability? | (row 19; sop-gateways BUSINESS ENTITY) | no | 10 | Sample company yes; see company formation drafts; no LLC actually formed | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S20-patent | What are your thoughts on a patent? | (row 20; sop-gateways PATENT) | no | 10 | Explore privately; no filing decision, no search or patentability opinion | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| S21-money | Will the next step need someone else's money? | (row 21) | no | 10 | Owner-funded Basic feasibility; Hotel/Drone future spend unfunded; no outside-money application | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| other | Anything else you want to talk about on this? Just bring it up. | No introductory text needed for sample | no | 11 | No additional facts supplied; sample scope fixed by plan | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
| said-in-passing | (not asked) Anything worth keeping that doesn't fit a field; used to fill other pending forms | No introductory text needed for sample | no | Not applicable — notes field | No conversation evidence; this is a fictional worked example | Invented scenario entry, not actual inventor testimony | estimate |
Sample — fictitious company. All numbers and people are invented scenario assumptions. This is draft concept paperwork; no physical testing, customer evidence, certification, filing or sign-off has occurred.