I don't know which Forum to put this under so I put it here. If the Mods want to move it Please do. Just let me know ok. Thanks.
Do any of you know who I can talk to about getting this device Created and Marketed ?? If so please contact me asap here or PM me ok. Thanks in advance for your input. I await. PEACE:RONB
I am late to the thread, but I can give you some free advice.
Not to rain on your parade -- and remember the appropriate discount for any "info" you get online.
Feel free to PM me.
Background: I have (4) US Utility Patents. Two of them did nicely (assigned to 3rd party), the other two were commercial duds (good inventions, just overrun by a newer technology).
Advice:
#1 -
NEVER "invent" anything unless you have a Buyer. The Buyer could be you, if you intend to go into production yourself -- but then be aware of how difficult it is to successfully invent, manufacture, test, market AND sell anything. That's a lot of hats to wear!
#2 - Read advice #1 again. "Never" means never!
#3 - Patents only give you AFFIRMATIVE RIGHTS to chase others who copy your idea. It does not "prevent" anyone from doing anything!
By that, I mean that unless you have deep pockets (and a lot of spare time) to chase folks who infringe your patent, what good is your patent?
#4 - The primary reason for a patent search is to KNOW what you have actually invented! This seems counter-intuitive.
By researching ALL prior art (not just patents), you'll be able to get the broadest protection in your claims.
If you invent something so narrowly defined, it's easy for folks to bypass your patent with only minor modifications to the item. (Thus, worthless to you commercially.)
#5 - It takes time and money to get a patent -- even if you do most (or all) of the work yourself.
Mine took roughly 4 years on average to grant, and all but one had a significant "back-and-forth" with the examiner.
The patent process looks intimidating, but it's really not that bad once you get past the arcane process and exacting language that seems to be unique to the USPTO.
#6 - Expect a Section-103 objection (i.e., it's too obvious of an invention) from the USPTO,
no matter what you invent.
You may also get a Section-102 objection (i.e., already been invented), and you might even get some 112 objections (i.e., technicalities with the application)
Note: Objections are not Rejections.
I fully believe the 103 objections are AUTOMATIC - the USPTO is simply trying to reduce their workload - they get a lot of B/S patent apps!
Anyway, you'll have to overcome these objections before they turn into rejections. The USPTO works on a stopwatch. Don't miss deadlines.
#7 - Saving this for last (even though I have much, much more to say about the patent process):
Think realy hard about if/how you want to profit from this. If your best avenue is to assign the patent rights to someone else (a manufacturer already established in the field?), know that you can do that without a patent being granted. Just file an application that is highly likely to be granted and assign the application. You can even do this with a Provisional Application, but a provisional will never turn into a patent unless a non-provisional is filed within the time alloted - and the non-provision cannot deviate from what was disclosed in the provisional. OR - you can forego the patent process altogether and just rely on non-disclosure agreements when you shop the idea around to potential buyers. Let them deal with the USPTO, if that's their decision. Also, a product can be successful without being patented! Many people forget that.
Don't mean to complicate it with #7, but sometimes your best bet is to sell the IDEA, not the patent.
Just file the provisional making SURE you don't do something stupid that affects the ability to patent it with a non-provisional later on (which your Buyer will file).
Oh, and definitely re-read #1 above.
I simply cannot stress enough how important it is to have a game plan.
Boatloads of "good ideas" never make a dime. And be wary of service companies offering to "help". Much of what they offer you really can do yourself.
Best of luck!
Keep it coming foljs. I appreciate it. PEACE:RONB
I realize this will take a while to accomplish. In the meantime there are only 2 people in the whole World who know what my idea is and she ain't talking.!!! 
