I have an idea for a add on seatbelt device that helps police officers detect if drivers are wearing seatbelts. Where do I start to see if this is a viable or worthwhile idea?
2006-11-24 06:10:23 · 6 answers · asked by dgoldenboy67 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
The best thing you can do is get the advice of a qualified patent professional who will help you learn whether your idea or invention is novel (new), whether it will be worthwhile to patent, and about how much it will cost to draft, file, and prosecute.
If you can't afford to hire a patent attorney or agent, then for only $100 you can file a complete description of the invention as a provisional application for patent with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Your description must explain exactly and completely how to make, perform, enable, and practice your invention. Then you will have a year before you have to file a nonprovisional patent (which should be prepared only by a patent professional). In the meantime you can call your invention "patent pending" and you can show your idea to companies who might want to buy it. See the link below to obtain the forms and complete instructions for filing a provisional patent application.
If you do find a major company who wants to buy your invention, then aside from paying you for it they will probably be happy to prepare, file, and prosecute the nonprovisional patent application (which saves you the cost of doing it) in return for your assigning the patent rights to them.
And if it turns out that you are unable to interest anyone in buying your invention, and you don't want to try to make and market it yourself, then you will be out only $100 instead of having paid several thousand dollars to obtain a patent that you can't market.
2006-11-24 13:20:49 · answer #1 · answered by gradivus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to stick to a patent you should place up very particular blueprints to a stable patent lawyer. After a volume of time they're going to inform you if any objections have been issued on your thought. this might nicely be a protracted technique and might instruct very costly. you are able to stick to for patents for a area in case you're making plans to sell in ecu,US or Asia which fees much less Getting a international patent is amazingly confusing and that's important plans and suggestions are precise and perfect or you threat dropping time and money.
2016-11-26 20:15:51 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in New Hampshire, and am one of those that is adamant about privacy and the perils of government intrusion. Such a device would probably tick me off if it were made mandatory.
In any case, if you really want to patent, you need to go to some of thiose companies that handle new inventions, or hire a patent attorney to look into it for you.
2006-11-24 06:21:26 · answer #3 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Besides saving lives and really annoying drivers that feel like they should have the freedom to be flung thru the windshield, Why would you want to make such a thing ?
It's a big process> marketing assessment, bis plans, patent, manufacturing.
unless you go thru a inventors company, but I don't recommend that either.
If your gut says to do it DO IT !
2006-11-24 06:30:36 · answer #4 · answered by mysticrelation 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Idea now stolen and patented, I'ma be rich...
2006-11-24 06:19:09 · answer #5 · answered by koka_lover 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
THROW IT AWAY!!!!!!! don't give them any more ammo!
2006-11-24 11:17:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋