Has anyone here patented anything?
Is anyone familair with the patenting process?
Is there a way to get money to patent something if you are broke? What is the cheapest you can patent something?
If you have developed a product is there a way you can sell it without having it patented yet? Is that called "patent pending"?
2006-09-06 06:03:58 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Yes, best to get a book 'cause it's not so simple.
About $100 minimum.
But if you file a sloppy application, fees can build up quickly.
However, if you are serious, you can file a "provisional" disclosure with USPTO for US protection. This gives you a year to file a patent and protects your interest against others who would like to patent your idea. Then you can try to get someone interested in financing your idea without fear they will steal it.
Of course, protecting any property (and your patent is intellectual property) can cost big bucks fast. Usually the threat of having ideas stolen is over rated by or our own self inflated importance! If it's worth stealing, it must be a damn good idea!
A provisional (or full application) will allow you to use the "patent pending" term.
2006-09-06 07:05:03 · answer #1 · answered by bubsir 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have not personally but do have some resources that could be handy for you...
NOLO is a great, free informational site. Also, be sure to read what the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) has to say about patents.
Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.
Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:
Getting a Patent:
* Patent It Yourself (11th Edition) by David Pressman
* Patents and How to Get One : A Practical Handbook by U.S. Department of Commerce
* How To Make Patent Drawings Yourself: A Patent It Yourself Companion by Jack Lo
* The Inventor's Notebook: A Patent It Yourself Companion by Fred E. Grissom
There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.
Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
2006-09-06 13:57:03 · answer #2 · answered by TM Express™ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I did and I am familiar.
No there are no free or cheap patents. Expect to pay thousands for the search and the application and the filing fees.
You can always sell stuff without a patent. However if someone else buys one and copies it you have no way to make them stop.
Patent pending means that you have already gone through the patent process up to the point where you are waiting for the patent office to give you an answer.
2006-09-06 13:08:22 · answer #3 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a first step go to http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html and search for your idea in both the Issued and Published sections. This is called "Prior Art Research" and you should document all your search terms and any pertienent results.
Published patents are pending in the process, but you can check them out. This is a good idea to make sure your idea isn't out there already and to get an feel of what a patent application looks like.... although you wont be able to see any illustrations unless you purchase a copy of the patent through a portal like http://www.nerac.com
When searching you want to search the whole patent so use this term...
SPEC/"your idea here"
or
SPEC/"idea word" and SPEC/"other word"
Be sure to use different variations and words that describe your idea as their are a myriad of ways to do so.
I'd also recommend a book called "Patent Law Essentials". Very helpful.
2006-09-06 13:07:26 · answer #4 · answered by simianfever 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm not familiar with the patenting process, but I would just like to encourage you! I think its great to have an idea and see it through, the world needs more people like you! Don't give up. :)
2006-09-06 13:06:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
all i can say for sure is this, if yu aren,t a engineer for some big company or otherwise knowledgeable, you it will definately be stolen from you. i have had two stolen from me one was a centrifacital clutch for a chainsaw and a cocking device for a crossbow.h**l yes i know my spelling is bad.but lets see you overhaul a internal combuston motor before you wise off your mouth!!!
2006-09-06 13:14:25 · answer #6 · answered by houdini 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have but it hasn't been approved yet. If I tell yah, you might profit of my idea.
2006-09-06 13:05:52 · answer #7 · answered by Tones 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2006-09-06 13:04:42 · answer #8 · answered by joeydelponte 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋