I'm always getting ideas for inventions. Recently I decided to do something smart and listen to the old man for once. He suggested that i actually wright them down. Well ever since I started doing that it seems that i get more and more into these inventions. Theres one in particular that seems to be quite ingenius. I've drawn up a crude model of how this device should work. So i have a few questions that maybe you guys can help me out with:
1 where could i go that could have somebody look at my idea and if it passes for a good idea then i could get some help in building a test model
2 should i go do something like that, im very very paranoid that someones gonna take my idea and run with it which leads to
3 when does the patent come along?
I had a lot of other questions but i failed to wright those down haha. But till then if yall could help me out id appreciate it. Ive been putting a lot of thought into this for a long time. Its not some new revolutionary way to chop onions, its actually usefull.

 

A lot of those companies that advertise to inventers are there just to collect an initial fee. I used to work for a guy that owned a bunch of patents for stuff he thought up. The first step is to really work out your idea quietly. Once you get to the point where it's, "wow, this might just work!", it's time to blow a few bucks for a patent. Then you're somewhat protected when searching for financing. If your ideas is good enough, there's guys out there that search the patents and will contact you, (or try to steal your ideas...). My boss said he received a few phone calls from speculators over the years.

For right now though, spend a few hours here: http://www.uspto.gov/index.html

Learn about the fees and the differences between the different patents. Learn how to search patents, (you download a special viewer to see the drawings.)

I have seeing some of these drawing that look like they were drawn on a napkin..

Like most .gov sites, it takes a while to figure out where everything is, but the info is there for free.

I'm not asking for any up front money, but 0.25% of the net for any future income would be nice, like if it's an operating system that puts MS out of business.

 

Ha, I have the top level software design for not only an operating system to do that, but a number of applications as well. Will they ever see the light of day? Nope - costs too much to hire programmers and write/test. Also have hardware design to do away with Intel dominance - same story.

 

ahhh thanks for the link. Ive already bookmarked it. Unfortunatly i wont run MS out of buisness because my invention is not computer related. But if my invention does work youll know in a few years because it should make drastic changes. Im mainly skeptical cause im a young buck to be coming up with ideas. And as we know, kids dont know what theyre talkin about most of the time. But i like to think of myself as doc brown from back to the future, ive had a lot of failed inventions in the past, but this one might just work (except i wont be traveling through time, if i could, id go to 1978 and get some doors for my truck)

 

Not trying to discourage you, just making a comment. TransMeta said the same thing a while back... haven't heard much from them since.

 

Yeah, there's a name I haven't heard in a while. They had some big name working for them, too - was it Linus Torvalds?

 

Well, the advice i would give is, write your idea down and date it, with drawings. Then to make it legal you have to have two independent and unrelated people witness and sign the paper. (The hard part of that is finding two people you really trust to not blab or tell anyone else of your ideas.) Then if someone else comes up with the idea you will have to compare dates and legality.

Now, check with your local universities to see if they can provide any information on Patent Searches and the Invention process. I got lucky, here in Oklahoma we have a Patent Library at the OSU Stillwater campus and they sent me, free of charge, and Inventor's Packet. It outlines the steps to putting an idea on paper and following through with buying the patent. Very informative and useful data in that packet, and it was free. Don't waste yer time on those commercials that say send us money and well help you get your invention created. I've got some ideas rattling around in this head and hope to get to see them being utilized by the world someday. Good luck with your inventions.

 

I was involved in the early days of computers and worked on the development of systems equipment. It was a standard part of the hiring process back then to sign an agreement giving the company sole possession of patient rights. My brand new wife worked for a patient attorney and the patient process can be complicated, long and expensive. You might want to spend the bucks to consult a patient attorney about protecting your property rights. Good luck.
Dono

 

Well, before you spend money on a patent attorney, you might want to spend some time researching previous and current patents, at a Patent Library. That way you can be sure your design has not already been submitted or patented. That might save you time and money.

Ya, be careful. Depending on your employer and type of business you are in, some companies require employees to sign waivers that gives the company full rights to any inventions/processes that they deem valuable to their business operations.

 

It was (is?) Linus. I believe he founded the company. Transmeta is actually still alive and kicking.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=TMTA&d=t

 

Ahhhh, but stay tuned...Linux is lurking...........

 

And if you're in school now the school might want part of the action too. When I was at OSU (ironically, where I actually had the equipment to build prototypes myself) I didn't pursue any of my inventions because it would have been declared university property.

The two independent and unrelated people that have to sign your documentation also must have the technical knowledge to understand the concept of your invention.

The way it used to be done was that you would fill out the patent paperwork but not send it in. Instead you would put it in a safe deposit box. Once your patent is approved, everything in it becomes public information free for anyone to copy, steal, or otherwise infringe upon. You don't have the money to go to court over it, so you're screwed.

 

Here is an Idea I do with my poetry.. I write it down and mail it to myself regesatared mail... then when I get the letter I don't open it. You have a sealed copy of something with dates exctra, and signatures... for proof if you need it. It seems to work better then looking up 2 witness.

 

Flip4ford - I've donme the same thing a few times, only with one addition. I had the paper(s) notarized, that way the date is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt.

 

Flip4ford and MRKnight have good (and cheap) ideas. Going straight to a patent attorney will cost you about $10,000 for a simple patent. Be careful where you show your idea. Lots of people invent a gizmo and try to sell it at the local flea market, with no patent protection. If it's a really good idea, someone takes it and runs with it. But don't give up! Many people will tell you all the good ideas have already been thought of. Nonsense! BTW, some employers may have claim to your ideas. I have had to sign a waiver to that effect at some places I worked.