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. 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???