Patent Process

[TMAR_1950]

What is the name of your state? Massachusetts
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to read this post.
I have an item that I would like to patent.
I linked into the U.S. Patent Office, faxed the form and I received a "Custom Number"in the mail.

I am not a big business or manufacturer.
I just tinker around and come up with an item now and then that works quite well.
This particular item is rather unique.
It is simple and straight forward of its use. The design drawing would be one page.

The main reason for this post is:
Could one of you "Pro's" tell me what I need to do to continue with pursuing this possible patent.
I do not know the legal process in any way, shape or form.
I tried to call the U.S. Patent Office and I get a phone menu that boggles my mind.
Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
TMAR
What is the name of your state? MassachusettsWhat is the name of your state?

 

[divgradcurl]

If you are not willing or are unable to hire a patent agent or attorney to draft your application and guide you through the process, your best bet is to head down to a local library or bookstore and get a book on how to patent an invention yourself. Trying to talk someone through the process of drafting and submitting an application and all of the supporting documentation, not to mention ongoing prosecution of the application, is really far beyond the scope of this board -- there's a lot of paperwork, and things can get pretty complicated. It's certainly doable by yourself -- inventors draft and file their own applications all of the time -- but it's not something that can really be answered easily in this sort of forum.

Your best bet is to talk with a local patent agent or patent attorney, and find out how much it would cost to have a professional draft and file your application and prosecute your application. If that's out, then you need to educate yourself, and probably the easiest way to do that is to go to your library or bookstore and get a book or two on patenting and invention yourself. There is also a lot of good info at www.uspto.gov, but a book written specifically for inventors would probably be easier to read and understand.

 

[JSonnabend]

Unfortunately, the PTO won't provide much substantive guidance to pro se applicants. My advice for those seriously seeking patent protection of any value is to find a reasonably priced, competent patent attorney (the two are not mutually exclusive, believe it or not).

Short of that, TMAR_1950's advice about getting a "do it yourself guide" is good.

Remember, a patent application isn't merely a form that one fills out. The way it's drafted directly affects both its ability to withstand attacks and the inventor's ability to stop competing products. A poorly drafted patent isn't worth much.

- Jeff