does anyone know about patents?

[cofi]

i came up with a KILLER invention for aimpoints....i have never seen anything like it and everyone ive told are blown away by the idea i would like to patent it....how do i go about doing it and how much does a patent cost (lawyers etc?)

[spyder]

i came up with a KILLER invention for aimpoints....i have never seen anything like it and everyone ive told are blown away by the idea i would like to patent it....how do i go about doing it and how much does a patent cost (lawyers etc?)
There are a ton of patent lawyers around you. Depending on what it is and how it works, you will go with a design patent (people can make close knock-off's though), or a utility patent. It would be much better for you to look up the two and get to know them on your own time rather than everyone here giving you what their idea on them is. The lawyer will cost between $5k to $9k depending on who you get to do it, that is the norm anyway from what I've seen. The price of course depends on how much work they do. Some will do the drawings for you, some are a lot more detailed in their description of what your invention does (those are the ones you want, and the expensive ones). Each lawyer will have options of what services they have, for that, you will have to call around and talk to each one, which I highly recommend. Hope this helps. [Beer] You can also print off a notice of disclosure for your invention also which if you talk to them in person, you make them sign if you talk details about your invention with them, or if they see it.

[spqrzilla]

Have you attempted to research whether your idea is already patented? The USPTO website has a database of patents.

Patent lawyers are expensive, it costs hundreds of dollars in filing fees, and thousands of dollars in attorney fees to obtain a patent.

The companies that purport to get you a patent inexpensively are universally scams.

[Ranger]

I own several patents and, in fact, own a company that takes ideas from drawings to patents to production (or sale). I can tell you that it's pretty straightforward, but very time consuming, can be extremely expensive (think $10-15K) and if you do not do it right then you are just wasting your time and money.

First thing you can do to help protect your idea is send yourself a registered mail with the details of your idea and don't open it. While this is not iron clad, it establishes when you came up with the idea.

If you think it's worth the time and effort, try to design the prototype yourself and see if it is worthwhile. Have some trusted friends test it as well. A lot of folks THINK they have the million dollar idea but after scrutiny find out that it was only them who think that. This also helps you in the patent process because you are seeking a patent for the ACTUAL item you want to use, post prototyping. If you submit "plan A" and decide there is a better design after you play with it then you nearly start from scratch in submitting "plan B" and so on.

For my company I purchased things to help in prototyping, 3D printers and the like, so we can see/feel/try the ideas before we go any further. We refine them again and again, then test them in small groups until we get what we want. We file patent protection early on just to get our basic idea protected, then submit the full patent when we have found what we want.

Once you go through all of that, then save your pennies and get a patent lawyer.

Another thing to remember is that when you file a patent it becomes public information and China is notorious for stealing patents. Now you are looking at $10-15K per country.

Moral of the story: be damn sure this is what you want before you through a lot of pain and suffering. More than one person has gone broke doing patents.

[cofi]

sweet sounds like i wont be doing that as i dont have thousands and thousands of dollars floating around :(

i did search the USPTO and couldnt find it or anything close to it

well thats a bummer maybe i should just email my idea to aimpoint and hope for a free eval unit when they develop it lol :)

[RCCrawler]

Your best bet is to produce a bunch of them and sell them as quick as possible before someone else starts knocking them off.

Unless you are a huge company with millions of dollars it seems patents are worthless.

[Irving]

Contact an investor.

[UncleDave]

Contact an investor.

This is good advise. I raise venture capital for a living. The money for a patent is not that hard of a raise. I also know some patent attorneys that are good and reasonable. PM me if you want to talk.

[Chad4000]

This is interesting to me too. I have on idea specifically that I think would make money..

[10mm-man]

I raise venture capital for a living.

Hey "Uncle Dave"! I am you long lost nephew, I have an excellent idea and need some $$$$..... Firearm related!! When can we do coffee???

[merl]

First thing you can do to help protect your idea is send yourself a registered mail with the details of your idea and don't open it. While this is not iron clad, it establishes when you came up with the idea.


Didn't we switch to a first to file method to avoid all this headache?

[DOC]

Tag for later. The registered mail idea is the poor man's patent. And a good idea too. You could just make a superior product to ensure name recognition to ensure that cheap knock offs don't steal your idea and ruin it. Think EOtech and Apple Computers.
Good luck with your idea. Don't forget that after you get a patent that you have to set aside money for lobbiest, unions and other kick backs or you will see your baby get smothered by fat assed leaches trying to take your idea.
Microsoft didn't spend any money on lobbying and they got sued over internet explorer and was nearly broken up. Since then they spent a hundred million on lobbying and haven't had anymore trouble from politicians.
Stuff like that keeps new ideas from coming to the surface. That might be way we still use gasoline in cars and electricity is our greatest discovery... 200 years ago. We seem to be stuck in a hole of very little to no invention.

[spqrzilla]

The registered mail idea is not a good idea, it is no one's "patent" - least of all a poor man's.

If you are worried about establishing an invention date, the best way is to file a provisional application - but that has some issues with it especially the deadline to convert to a formal application.

The real answer is to decide if the idea really has value, and if it does hire a patent attorney. There are no short cuts.

[Ranger]

The registered mail idea is not a good idea, it is no one's "patent" - least of all a poor man's.

If you are worried about establishing an invention date, the best way is to file a provisional application - but that has some issues with it especially the deadline to convert to a formal application.

The real answer is to decide if the idea really has value, and if it does hire a patent attorney. There are no short cuts.

I didn't say or imply that the registered mail is a substitute for a patent, but it DOES establish a date and it HAS been upheld in court when needed for that very purpose. It is a step and one that does not hurt at all to have done for $5.00. There is no substitute for a patent application, period, and having a registered mail is not going to win a battle in court, but if there is a conflict and if there are the right circumstances then it can be helpful and it's damn cheap insurance for the just in case scenario. But, hell, what do I know, I only do this as part of my living :).

Whatever dude, the Internet should not be your one-stop answer. Most attorneys will answer your questions for free, and like others here I know a LOT of them around town if you need suggestions.

[Singlestack]

I prosecute patent applications for a living, and own my own IP business. My customers are startups and smaller companies who don't have big law firm deep pockets. Although the America Invents Act was passed on Sept 16th, the first to file provision isn't enforced until 18 months later or March 16, 2013. The best approach is to draft and file a Provisional application to preserve an early filing date, and then file a Non-Provisional application within 1 year. That will keep your costs down while getting an early filing date. Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss further.

I will say, in my experience, most of the time I end up talking first time inventors out of pursuing a patent. In some cases, it is valuable and even necessary in order to achieve commercial value. However, most inventors are unaware of prosecution, enforcement, and litigation cost and time requirements - and would be very ill-prepared if they needed to enforce. It is really important for inventors to be clear what their expectations are.

One other thing: I have an Aimpoint Comp M4 atop my AR, and am pretty familiar with Aimpoint products...

Singlestack

[cofi]

so what would be the better way to go to get my product made? it sounds like patents are not the way to go unless you have deep pockets....is there a way to just sell my idea?

[ChadAmberg]

Just in case, purchase and have filled out properly an inventors log book. See some of the details here: http://inventors.about.com/cs/logbook/ht/Log_book.htm
Works much better than a letter to yourself, as this is the "official" way to do it.
Next, hire a lawyer to write an NDA for you. Then get a demo made at one of the custom machine shops, there's plenty around.
Using that NDA, contact companies that could make what you're thinking of and ask if they'd like to either buy your idea for a set fee or a %. They'll have the deeper pockets to pay for the patent if it's worth patenting and not just cranking out as many as they can as fast as they can. Your name would be on the patent, but they'll own it.

[sniper7]

so what would be the better way to go to get my product made? it sounds like patents are not the way to go unless you have deep pockets....is there a way to just sell my idea?

I would call aimpoint, or another company that makes aimpoint related products and while not giving them your idea, try to talk with someone how "selling" them your idea would work. If they accept it, maybe they will pay you a lump sum or small percentage.

you may risk giving the idea to a company that has the money and means to produce the item and tell you to pound sand after it's all said and done. that means money and lawyers on your end.

I'm sure some others will have ideas as well. If it is something you truly think will sell...like .mil contracts kind of sell, then you might want to talk to investors to get it done correct. you won't make all the money yourself...but at least you can make some money

[cofi]

thinking about subbing this out to a manufacturing company and just calling it something boring.... without a patent and just selling em myself

[Sharpienads]

so what would be the better way to go to get my product made? it sounds like patents are not the way to go unless you have deep pockets....is there a way to just sell my idea?

Shark Tank.

But seriously, when you get rich, remember all your CO AR15 buddies...