I have an idea for an awesome invention. Now what?

Question

I want to make my idea a reality but I do not know where to turn.

Answer 1

To protect an original invention OR a significant improvement to an existing product, a patent would be filed. Here's the USPTO's definition: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/index.html#patent

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!

Answer 2

Try looking around the internet for information on how to start a business and get the funding you need to do that. Here is a great site for that and much more (http://www.entrepreneur.com/).

Most likely the next step is drafting up a business plan that assesses the true potential of your invention given past, present, and future market conditions. This will be used by banks to determine whether to give you the funding you need. Also, if you really think this idea is going to make it big, consider filing for a patent as soon as possible. Chances are that someone else (including me) might or already has come up with the idea but hasn't done so.

Answer 3

First it depends where you are: in the USA or outside.

In the USA the rule is the first person to invent in the USA has the patent rights in the USA. Outside the USA the first person to file their patent application is the owner of the patent rights.

I am going to assume you are inside the USA. If so the first thing you need to do is collect all the information you have about what you invented and when you invented it. If you don't have enough information then write it down ASAP and date it.

If you are a small inventor in the USA who cannot afford the $5,000 or so needed to file a solid patent application then I would advise that you continue to perfect your invention and then begin to sell it to make money to pay for the patent application. I advise this to small inventors in the USA because they have one-year grace period from the date they first offer to sell their invention to file for US patent.

Unfortunately small inventors outside the USA do not have this luxury. They need to keep their invention secret until they file their patent application.

Also I know there are a lot of "self-help" books describing how to file a US patent but to be honest if your invention is worth anything then it should be patented by a professional patent attorney.

Finally you do not need to make your invention in order to get a patent for the invention. You can file for a so-called "paper patent": because the invention has not been made, it only exists "on paper". Paper patents are available for most inventions, except chemicals and formulae, but there is a downside to them. If, on following your description on how to make the invention, someone proves that it did not work then the paper patent is invalid.

Good Luck

Answer 4

start by patenting. DO NOT use one of those "sell us your invention" things you see on tv. Test market your product with people you know and trust. Make some samples of your item if you can, if not, find someone that can.