Patent Information Needed

You can go to the patent office web site to check out former patents along the same line - this is less expensive than hiring some crook or someone that will just take your money. If there isn't anything like what your idea is, the best way is to have a product made of it yourself (get a reliable person/company to help. Then send picture to patent office with an explanation of what it does.

What wonderful timing for you to ask this question; I have an idea and was also wondering how to patent it. I wanted to let you know though that the link for the patent office listed in the other response has a couple of letters missing. The patent website is http://www.uspto.gov/
I pray this helps both you and I. I'm certainly going to do some designing of my idea then investigating through the patent website. Or maybe I should investigate before I spend a lot of time designing??? Anyway, I appreciate the other responses giving advice about attorneys.
Have a blessed week everyone!
C. H.

My husband just just did this - you need to find a patent attorney and see about getting a "provisional patent" which is about $1000-$2000. I don't think there is a cheaper way than that. The attorney should be able to tell you in a short meeting or phone call if it's is patent worthy and then you can pursue the patent.

You can save some money by doing some of the due diligence yourself before contacting a lawyer. Google patents http://www.google.com/patents might be more accessible for searching existing patents than the search at the U.S. Patent Office. Good Luck!

Be Very CAREFUL... I had an idea for a baby item 16 years ago or so and lost a borrowed $3000 trying to follow through on my idea. Needless to say I was paying back a loan that got me nothing in return. It was one of those programs where they do it all... (Invent America?) It took it so far and then I got stuck with a patent pending ... The upside was that my mom spoke with a lady in Gainesville that said my idea was a success because I tried... There is a book that Clark Howard recommends for following through on Ideas. Can't remember the name but you could google him and maybe get the information from him? Good Luck! I will share that the idea needs to be completely original. My idea was a take off of a pacifier, without the complete pacifier being an original it was denied a patent. No matter what you do, keep a copy of all correspondence - mail a copy to yourself and do not open it - keep on file. This dates your idea so that someone else can not take it from you.

M. B

Married/working w/ 4 children (twins boy/girl 27, 18 boy, 16 girl)

I would say to search for common things through the patent office and consider if it is something that is "common knowledge." That would mean say a pair of jeans cannot be patented because they are now common knowledge having been on the marketplace for years (I believe the minimum for this is 20). Also, beware of taking it to manufacturers and companies that "patent" ideas. I know people that have been burned by both. Good luck!

Hi K.,
Sounds exciting, I have a friend that is in a networking group with me that is a patent attorney. He works here in Woodstock on his own so he doesn't have all the expenses of a big law firm so he passes the savings on to his clients. I am not sure if he has a consultation fee but its worth giving him a call. Their is also a description of his firm on our networking groups web site www.secbn. His information is below.
Good luck and let me know how you make out if you call him
B.
Brad Crose, Principal
Crose Law LLC
112 Northbrooke Trace
Woodstock, GA 30188

Phone: ###-###-####
e-mail: ____@____.com
Web site: www.CroseLaw.com

Crose Law LLC business description

I practiced patent law for 9 years until I had my first son, and have been at home with him and his little brother for almsot 5 years now.

You could do a search on your own at the US Patent and Trademark Office's website . . .www.pto.gov. There's a search feature on there . . .you can search patents and patent applications in various ways . . . by title of a patent,by what the patent specification discloses, etc. If you see a patent or application that discloses your invention, then you shouldn't be able to obtain a patent too.

The PTO's website also has a search feature for attorneys in your area. Smaller law firms and solo practictioners will be cheaper than large law firms. And honestly large firms aren't likely to take you on as an individual inventor . . . individual inventors often cause conflicts for law firms who would rather take on companies who can give them lots of business instead of one matter.

If your invention really is patentable and likely to be marketable, I'd recommend finding a good attorney and spending money up front to get a good patent.

The PTO's website also has other information that you may find helpful.

Good luck!