Are you an Inventor? need advice!?

Question

Im trying to get one of my ideas patented, but i find it very difficult to get it done, especially considering my age (21). Banks will only let me take out a max loan of 5k (secured) and the more loans i take out from different banks, the lower my credit score will be.
The idea is genious...sorry i cant tell you what it is. I have a commercial advertising the product made (3d animation). but my biggest concern is finding the finances. I figure it'll cost 10-15k between lawyer fees, patent fees, etc. another huge problem is i have no contacts..i dont know any company sales reps. i cant just call and ask for an appoinment cause im sure they get hundreds of these calls a day. and then theres the fact that they might think 'chances are its a pitiful product' before they even talk to me. i wish i could tell you what it is, but you would probably steal the idea. i have a client that ive done some animation for and he had his stolen. because of patent PENDING...so im trying to be cautious

Answer 1

have you gone to the uspatent office website??? you can download a form and print it and fill it out for the patent process. then, you need patent drawings done (don't think u need em for pc stuff like that) and other things on the check list. past that, all you need is a prototype, and you're good to go. once you have the patent, the banks would be more likely to loan you the money, since they see that you're serious..... good luck, honey.

Answer 2

You have three more choices:
1. Approach a patent marketing firm like Invention Consulting in Scottsdale, AZ (Art Goldberg) and convince them to help you free of charge (they're nice, I've dealt with them once, 10 years ago);
2. Write to the Fraunhofer Institut in Munich, Germany; they are a huge, reputable, public research organization which has a program in place to help people who do not have the money for a patent get one, and then they help you market it. This used to be called "Armenrecht", and probably still is. These guys are probably as good as it gets in terms of getting help, everyone else may just cheat you.
3. File for a preliminary US patent. It costs $10 and gives you instant protection for one year. After that, you better have found someone to foot the bill for a real patent.
Well, and then there's one more thing you could do (I did that, works brilliantly):
Approach a company that interests you with the idea, have them sign a confidentiality agreement, disclose the idea, and ask them if they would like to take you on board as a developer to bring the thing to life. You may lose the idea along the way, as they obtain more and more rights to it, but you will also acquire a record of successful development work, which can jack up your value in the employment market to the point where the profit from your invention itself will be comparably negligeable.

Answer 3

Give this patent for free to the world. Everybody will be happy and you will not have this problem. I know you will tell I am an idiot but when you come to my age you will understand that I was right. Actually your main goal is not your product then money. You want to be rich and famous. Just do it, but life success is something more than this.