patent help

[true2one2004]

What is the name of your state?florida
yes Hi
I have an invention and i keep going to these "patent assitance companies" to get my idea rolling but really they want to charge me $1200+ to just give me an evaluation i just want a patent how do i get one? someone please help

 

[divgradcurl]

i just want a patent how do i get one?

There are basically four ways you can go about getting a patent (well, 4 that I could think of right now!):

1. Go to an invention submission company, pay several thousand dollars, and likely end up with nothing more than a provisional patent application which expires in a year;

2. Sell the idea to a company and let them patent it -- your name will still be on the patent as an inventor, so you'll have a patent, but not any rights to the patent since you sold them;

3. Try and draft a patent application yourself -- there are a lot of resources on the web, including the USPTO website at www.uspto.gov, and books at the library that can help you draft your own patent application -- and the Patent Office will even help you, if you ask. This way you can get a patent for really only the costs of filing. However, this will likely require significant self-study and effort on your part;

4. Finally, and probably the best way, is to go to a registered patent agent or patent attorney, either in your area or somewhere else (no reason for them to be local, unless you just feel more comfortable talking to someone face-to-face). A patent agent will generally be cheaper than a patent attorney, and many are experienced working with solo inventors. Prices vary widely, so you might want to shop around. You can search for a registered agent or attorney here: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/olia/oed/roster/index.html

Google is also a good source for some information -- just type "patent agent" into google, there are numerous websites out there, many have price lists so you know where you stand. A patent will still likely cost you several thousand dollars through a patent agent -- but, unlike an invention submission company, a patent agent or attorney you hire works directly for you, is accountable to you, and you will always end up with a better product.

 

[true2one2004]

ok say if i wanted to sell my idea to a company but how do i know they arent going to steal it before i can arrange a deal? what can id o protctect my idea in the process until it is sold?

 

[divgradcurl]

ok say if i wanted to sell my idea to a company but how do i know they arent going to steal it before i can arrange a deal? what can id o protctect my idea in the process until it is sold?

There are a number of ways -- have them sign an NDA (you'll probably want a lawyer to draft the NDA for you, and they may not sign it, but that's good protection); file a provisional application with the USPTO (much cheaper than a full application, good protection as long as you file your full application within a year), those are probably the best ways.

From a practical standpoint, however, any reputable company is unlikely to steal your idea. Not to be blunt, but the majority of inventions out there really aren't worth that much in the commercial marketplace; even those that are usually aren't worth more than the cost of a court battle if they did steal your idea. Finally, many company's may not even want to see your idea without some sort of protection, simply because THEY may be working on something similar on their own, and don't want to be accused of stealing your invention later on.

Your absolute best bet is to file a nonprovisional patent application (will cost a coupl eof grand, most likely), then you have protection and bargaining power when shopping around. You don't have to wait until it issues, but you will want to make sure you have the application filed.