I have no patent protection so can't show the design at this stage until I can figure out how to market the thing
Too late.. Pics are right there..
Besides, "patent protection" doesn't actually protect you.. All a patent does is give you a right, essentially an obligation, to spend a bunch
of money defending your patent. There are no patent police, you don't get to go to the DA.. All the money to defend your patent comes
out of YOUR pocket... And its NOT CHEAP!! And if you win, what do you get? An "award" of the copiers profits.. That's a whole other
world of BS trying to actually get your "award".. And if they don't stop

More money, and back to court, all the $$$$ coming out
of your pocket.
And a US patent only protects you here.
On another front. There have been metric buttloads of strange and oddball gold getting devices invented and patented over the years.
If I had to guess, whatever you do plan to patent is probably indefensible..
If you are going to throw money, get a trademark.. "The Gold Widget" or some catchy thing..
Make 'em, and sell 'em... I'm not sure how much it is, but you can become a participating vendor here like Gold Hog, and hawk your wares right here..
Kill your copy cats with customer service and quality, and keep 'em coming back with a catchy name and a pretty logo.
Its a niche market, its not huge, and desert products even less so than wet water stuff like THE BAZOOKA GOLD TRAP!!! And they died..
Make some, and sell 'em.. Put a bit of cash in your pocket, not in a lawyers. At the right price I would be interested, its a pretty slick gadget.
Here is a recent thread were patents on a piece of gold getting gear was discussed.
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/gold-prospecting/534917-help-patent-device.html