new tools

Steve D_8

You want to find a patent agent or attorney. Both can file a patent for you but only the attorney can go to court. You would end up in court if someone is using your "intellectual property," which is what a patent gives you exclusive rights to. You will need to file the patent within 1 year of the invention. You should not be discussing this with anyone in the industry before you file - they can file before you. Document any ideas in drawings with dates and have witnesses sign them if possible. Expect the cost to be in the thousands. The process can take years but the important thing is the filing date.

You will need to explain how the invention works and how it is novel and non-obvious. I would avoid anyone who is pursuing you for the business. Look for law firms with "intellectual property" in their list of practices. Patent agents may freelance or work for these firms. If you know any engineers at large companies you may ask for the name of an agent at their firm and contact them directly.

Once you have a patent you may produce the product or licence it to someone else.

Where are you located? If there are industries near you there will be IP practices nearby.

Best Luck

Steve

rich c_4

tool patent

I bet almost everyone on the wall has thought of, made or modified a tool at one time or another, and thought I should patent this. My question is has anybody here actually done it, or know how? The internet is full of patent companies, and lawyers, none of which seem reputable. If anyone knows of a good patent company, preferably one who deals with plumbing & heating tools could you please let me know. thanks, Rich

oil-2-4-6-gas

do it now

i had some drawings and some crude prototypes of a vacuum gauge for the oil filter for residential ,,i started working on them in august --well winter came and went ,,that spring i started seeing the now famous and stocked in every supply house -Vac -Bolts --do it now document it -before you see it on the shelf

hr

Talk to John Runke

he has the low down on patents. You can do a patent search yourself, possibly online. This would be a step before you start paying an attorney. This lets you see if there are any similar patents out there that may prevent you from obtaining one.

jr@comfortableheat.com 203 849-1479 Prepare for a long conversation

hot rod

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Kevin O. Pulver

Well.....

Rich,
I hope you do well. There's things I see every day under the "why didn't I think of it first?" heading and my list keeps growing. Remember, even though a patent is good, and the product good, it doesn't guarantee revenue. You need to have good marketing to SELL the thing. Some very good ideas have not sold well. And there are some very STUPID things that have made people rich. (pet rock, Chia pet, etc) Also, is the market big enough to recoup your investment in the patent. Also, if it's a good enough idea, sometimes others will manufacture it without license, and just tell you to "sue me." They know most will not have the time to do that. If it's a REALLY GREAT idea, sometimes it's best not to get the patent immediately, but drag the process out and manufacture it with patent PENDING. That way you are making and selling it, and the clock hasn't even started ticking on the limited time available on your patent. They're good for only so many years, and this buys you extra time on the front end.
Having said all that, do like someone said above, and when you have a good idea, write it down in a notebook with a date and someone to sign it as a witness. I am told that sometimes that will do you some good even if you didn't get the patent first. Let us know when you can what this thing is and does! I hope you make a mint. Kevin

Constantin

Yup...

Searching for patents on your own is a great way to save money, if you know what to look for. I work in this field (in the medical device arena) and had a long conversation with John about his formulas, etc. Formulas, BTW, are not patentable, while methods and designs are. Getting around patents has spawned a whole other industry of lawyers, engineers, etc.

Receiving a patent in the US isn't that expensive but defending them is. Just ask Dale about the continued alleged infringement of their Thermofin patents by one of the giants of the field. Unless you can find a contingency lawyer to take your case, you might not have the resources to win the fight. And, unless you spend a good deal of money claiming the right patent landscape, the patent may be worthless. Thus, it helps to find not only a patent attorney, but one that specializes in your field.

Worldwide patents get really expensive. Expect to spend about $300k or so to cover the major markets. Depends on the patent, obviously, and the need to cover Japan, which is very expensive. And if you thought defending patents in the US is bad, try getting justice in places like China. The only upside in Europe is that the loser has to pay the attorney fees for both sides of the fight. Makes David vs. Goliath fights a bit less intimidating.