Protecting
the rights to your invention is very important and you should devote
a good deal of your time obtaining
information on how the process works. We
have several pages on the
subject,
please explore them all to learn more.
The The United States Patent
and Trademark Office's web site provides
excellent, detailed
information, explanations and links to application forms.
You can file for a patent online and search a database
of patents issued since 1790.
You can find the USPTO web site
at: http://www.uspto.gov |
Before spending a great deal of time, effort and money on the patenting
process
there are several things you should consider.
(1) Is my invention
unique, does it offer a
better solution to a real problem?
(2) Can it be easily and economically be manufactured?
(3) Is there a market for my product?
(4) How big is the market?
(5) Will the market grow or decline?
(6) Is there competition for my product?
(7) Will the
product be obsolete by the time the patent is issued?
(8) How much will it
cost and how long will it take to bring the invention to market?
(10) How
will I sell it? |
Undertaking a
patent application without a patent
attorney or agent is very
difficult
and not recommended. It may take up to three years for a patent
application to be granted.
Applications are
often rejected
the
first time and you will often need
to amend your claims and appeal.
It is possible to save some expense if you draft the patent application yourself and
then have an attorney proof
your final
application. |
Your Application Should Include
- The name of the inventor or all of the inventors if
more than one.
- The invention's name, background, purpose, and
advantages.
- Brief descriptions of the drawings.
- The specification: a written description of the
invention and an explanation of how to make and how to use the invention.
- Claims defining the invention. Claim drafting is
extremely complex and important, because the claims—what an inventor.
- claims to be their invention—are the most indispensable element of a patent application.
|
It may take a year-and-a-half or more for
the USPTO to respond to your application and then up to three years for a
final patent to be granted. After filling for your patent, you may use the term
“patent pending” on your
invention until your application
is accepted.
Although it is possible to
apply for a patent yourself, the
process is long and complicated. We
strongly recommend that
you consult with a registered patent attorney or
patent
agent, (see
finding an attorney). |
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