Invention

[NJrider]

Had this idea for a while that has to do with pwc trailers. Anybody else by any chance know how I could go about patenting this? I tried google but there are so many scams out there id rather go with someones word on what to do and who to talk to. Thanks guys. hope this things works out.

 

[stanton]

make yourself a quality print, but mostly the whole patenting system is bs. ie patent pending..

 

[kevo2k6]

Draw up all the specs as detailed as you can. Include anything and everything to prove it is yours. Seal it in an envelope and mail it to yourself. That way you have SEALED version with a government dated stamp.

This was recommended by my cousin who is pursuing a degree in law.

 

[ger87410]

Draw up all the specs as detailed as you can. Include anything and everything to prove it is yours. Seal it in an envelope and mail it to yourself. That way you have SEALED version with a government dated stamp.

This was recommended by my cousin who is pursuing a degree in law.

If that'll work: mail yourself an unsealed envelope and put in there whatever you want later on.
:joke:

 

[#ZERO]

Draw up all the specs as detailed as you can. Include anything and everything to prove it is yours. Seal it in an envelope and mail it to yourself. That way you have SEALED version with a government dated stamp.

This was recommended by my cousin who is pursuing a degree in law.

What he said.

Just draw a picture of idea out with a good description and put in a sealed envelope; then mail it to yourself via certified mail and don’t open it. Be sure and keep extra copies if anyone steals your idea you can take them to court with proof and it’s almost as good as a real patent pending.

 

[DangerBoy]

What he said.

Just draw a picture of idea out with a good description and put in a sealed envelope; then mail it to yourself via certified mail and don’t open it. Be sure and keep extra copies if anyone steals your idea you can take them to court with proof and it’s almost as good as a real patent pending.

Sorry guys that method is a myth

 

[#ZERO]

Sorry guys that method is a myth

Might be a myth but it still works and I have court proof. :biggrin:

 

[GDFL]

http://www.snopes.com/legal/postmark.asp

 

[DangerBoy]

USPTO Has a first to file rule, not first to think of an idea, the only thing prior documentation of an Idea may be used for is to help prove an " interference" that the Idea you showed to someone else , was than used by that person to file for a patent,

a sealed envelope will give you little to no evidentiary value and none if you never pursued the patent yourself

if you dont file for a patent and receive it (after years and much $ ) you dont have one

 

[AtomicPunk]

um... how about consulting a patent attorney/agent?

 

[QuickMick]

Thats true, the sealed envelope thing may have worked in the 70's and 80's, but not today.

To get a patent you do have to submit so much stuff, get an attorney.
I have heard its easy, I have looked into it and I saw it costs about 5k.

Good luck with the double trailer thing.. oops did I spill the beans?

 

[GDFL]

A patent is only as good as your ability ($$$$$) to defend it. Just go for a patent pending, which is cheap, and you'll have time to pursue your idea and determine if it's worth the extra cash to get a full patent. That's what I would do.

 

[bmf]

ooooopps

 

[NJrider]

im going to keep researching this, really not trying to spend money tho.

 

[smoofers]

im going to keep researching this, really not trying to spend money tho.

You have to spend money to make money (as the cliche goes). Honestly, if you think your idea has some merit, and could potentially make you a good chunk of change, then the patent is worth it. If you think the idea is a good one, but not worth plunking the money and time down for a patent, just go ahead and build it. Sell it to your friends, sell it to people on the X and PWCtoday. If it keeps up, use that money to patent the idea then. Look into what it would take to have a "patent pending" on the design, might be easier than you think. If nothing else, instead of mailing the design to yourself, take it to a notary and have them notarize and date it. It is a better method of at least dating the idea, if down the road you did have a patent and needed to defend it.

 

[DAG]

just to give you a ballpark, (b/c i had no idea what they cost until i got one), its going to cost you a minimum of 10k when all said and done.. however a Provisional only is about $600 but they are worthless, you get what you pay for.

Also note, its easy to scare people into thinking you have a patent (people are to lazy to research) Find a patent Number to a trailer and list that number,, thats what we did t get by for 8 months

 

[SuperDrifter]

You have to spend money to make money (as the cliche goes). Honestly, if you think your idea has some merit, and could potentially make you a good chunk of change, then the patent is worth it. If you think the idea is a good one, but not worth plunking the money and time down for a patent, just go ahead and build it. Sell it to your friends, sell it to people on the X and PWCtoday. If it keeps up, use that money to patent the idea then. Look into what it would take to have a "patent pending" on the design, might be easier than you think. If nothing else, instead of mailing the design to yourself, take it to a notary and have them notarize and date it. It is a better method of at least dating the idea, if down the road you did have a patent and needed to defend it.

It's a really easy process, PM me. It'll cost $100 plus a flat rate envelope to the USPTO, and you have a 1yr. window where you are Patent Pending. In other words no one can look at your documented idea for 1yr., in the mean time, do a 'reduction to practice' (prototype), then promote the idea and look for sponsors/ man'f.

We are a 'first to file' (my bad) :unitedstates: country....get an inventors notebook, keep record of your idea. :439:

 

[firemedicmonkey]

Check out these Books:

Amazon.com: Patent It Yourself: David Pressman: Books

Amazon.com: Inventor's Notebook: A Patent It Yourself Companion: Fred E. Grissom, David Pressman: Books

Amazon.com: Patent Pending in 24 Hours: Richard Stim, David Pressman: Books

 

[teton]

I currently work for the uspto as a patent examiner. the rule is first to file (however if you have documented proof you can swear by the invention date with a 131 affidavit.) however there is also a 1 year statuatory bar rule, so if anything with your invention in it is published or sold one year before you file you are out of luck.

Also a provisional application known as a "patent pending" goes by the one year rule as well. So if you file your provisional application and don't file your non-provisional "real patent" within a year your sol.

the main thing is, make sure if you publish or sell your idea in any way that you file for either a non-provisional or provisional within a year....otherwise you will be barred from patenting your idea.....

 

[DangerBoy]

Don't forget that if you Publish or show your invention publicly before filing you may be bared from obtaining any international patents

teton, cool job ! do you work with any paticular clasifications, or do you examine anything and everything ?

Did the KSR ruling change how you examine applications ?