Patent

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I know I'm mostly a lurker that has great admiration for the work you folks perform but I have a question.I've been welding for 25 + years and have enjoyed it for the most part. My question is this. I have fabbed up something to make life easier on us older folks and maybe lazy younger ones. How do you go about getting a patent?
Reply:see a patent lawyer and usually after taking your money they will search to see if ideal has already been patented which good chance it has already. you can search government web site your self or google patent web site. what a ideal or object is called is difficult. it can be classified under many different areas.patents cost money. a lot of companies only patent as they do not want somebody else to patent a ideal and then sue them. even if you do something first other company can patent ideal and force you to pay money even if you have done something for years. the ideal of patent system is to share knowledge with everybody. all patents can be viewed by anybody. some companies do not want to share ideals.http://patft.uspto.gov/.https://patents.google.com/
Reply:if i had an idea i wanted to patent the first thing i'd do is a simple google search to see if the idea was already out there. the second is to find out about the process itself and go from there. good luck!i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:I dont have any patents of my own sadly but, I think you start with a patent pending. Another thing you should do in the mean time is: mail to your self any sketch's / documents that you have and keep it sealed until you need to prove you were first inventor of your gadget whatever.IMO, unless your making millions of pieces or have something phenomenal , its not worth getting a patent. Just put a patent pending on the part so you can get a patent later if needed. If some one copies your idea and is selling them making huge amounts of money, then you can take legal action to recover your fair share of the profits.If I copy your idea for my own use, theres not much legal action you could do. If I copy and sell your idea, I think you can only sue for part of the profit. Unless I make a fortune, its not going to be worth your trouble and money/lawyers to sue.I suggest you search pat pending process and file for patent. In the meantime, you should just start making and selling your gadget. If your invention is to big for you to tool up or produce or whatever; you could try to sell it to a manufacture that has interest in your gadget. I think LISLE tool company buys patents and or your invention. Hope that helps and good luck.EDIT : I guess LISLE is only interested in automotive stuf.http://www.lislecorp.com/about/program/Last edited by Insaneride; 02-17-2016 at 12:01 PM.Reason: EDIT
Reply:Simple answer goes something like this: you "could" go through a patenting process, it is not a cake walk and will cost a lot of money for a lot of reasons, many of which have already been shared here. Even if you do patent something, if someone decides to "steal" your patent, unless you have a really deep set of pockets, by the time that you "attempt" to fight them they may outspend you and you've gained nothing. So unless this is something that is just out of this world simply do as one of the other folks here suggested: carefully describe, sketch, blue print and  take pictures of it and mail this via certified mail to yourself and DO NOT OPEN IT. Store it away and in the event of someone else trying to claim that you have infringed on their idea you will have recourse. Then manufacture your product and sell the hell out of it and let time take it's course. Best of luck and regards, Allanaevald
Reply:^^^^ +1I have a patent and it should be noted here that there are different levels of patents. A "design patent" is the simplest, least expensive patent to obtain, but also the easiest for someone to beat.*****It'll feel better when it quits hurting!*****
Reply:Originally Posted by aevaldcarefully describe, sketch, blue print and  take pictures of it and mail this via certified mail to yourself and DO NOT OPEN IT. Store it away and in the event of someone else trying to claim that you have infringed on their idea you will have recourse.
Reply:From my limited exposure to patenting, think of $10,000 as a starting point, just so you are prepared.
Reply:If it's actually worth something, the Chinese believe there is no such thing as a patent. Copying is their normal way of doing business.Everlast  i210 with 200a spool gunEverlast i140eLOTOS LTP5000D Non-Touch Pilot Arc "Things are never so bad that they can't get worse...."
Reply:Don't bother.Been there done that and we really got NOWHERE even with lawyers and such and when it was over we spent close to 15K for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Yoy can also have your patent design notarized.   Sent from mobile.  Not responsible for TyposTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Mailing it to yourself no longer works like it used toHobart Handler 210 MVPAHP AlphaTIG 200XHypertherm Powermax 30 Air
Reply:hi i did a little search while trying to find the same answers as you. basically it's better to sell your idea to a company and let it go. as far as i was able to learn that a patent is of no use for folks like us. i've found that international law states as long as a product / item was changed by at least 10% from original it's not infringing and you can't claim copyright issues. so this leaves you with if you show some rep from a potential buyer once they look at at you become screwed from a shady business man. so if it's a simple build for you then as soon as someone see's it they can copy it and make a few changes and then it's theirs. i developed two things and tried to sell them others make them but now they use some of my ideas to do it. my loss. i have a friend that invested over 50,000 in a device and tried to sell the idea after getting his patented and after 5 years and multiple trips to major corporations he has no takers but plenty of copies of his idea now in production and nothing he can do about it.rob
Reply:It has been said a patent is a license to sue.  That is wrong.  A patent is an requirement to sue.  If you do not, you can lose your patent.If your idea is truly valuable you will have to sell or license it to someone with deep enough pockets to defend it.
Reply:A couple of us guys in the electric shop designed a simpler, quicker method to center ply blocks in a lathe for peeling in a plywood mill.  Our boss liked it and suggested we go for a patent.  We got in touch with the Corporate Attorneys ( very large Paper / Wood Products Company) to get the ball rolling.  After filling out page after page of documents describing the process in great detail and taking photos and all the other documentation they asked for, they decided it was not worth the cost and they dropped it.  That's corporate attorneys for you....
Reply:Have it made in China at such a ridiculously low price that not even other Chinese companies will bother copying it.Last edited by Oldendum; 02-17-2016 at 05:11 PM."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I attended a local AWS dinner meeting years ago and the table I sat down at was filled with engineers.  Their stories of trying to protect designs and enforce patents was humorous and tragic at the same time.  They talked about hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on patents and having their ideas stolen.  One tactic is to design something and try not to reveal the manufacturing method.  Once the product was shown at trade shows the cat is out of the bag and copies appear.  One guy had the choice of taking shares in the new design and company or just getting paid for his work.  He shrugged his shoulders at how stupid had been believing that they could protect the design.  I learned a lot that night.
Reply:Thank U folks for the replies. I am going to talk to an attorney and see where it goes.
Reply:Some things aren't patented but make use of highly guarded trade secrets. Dupont makes Tyvek here with some pretty sophisticated machinery. Another local company makes the wicking fiber stuff as used in Sharpies and felt tip pens.  Apparently very simple IF you knew how they did it. Of course there's the recipes for Coke and Dr. Pepper."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumSome things aren't patented but make use of highly guarded trade secrets. Dupont makes Tyvek here with some pretty sophisticated machinery. Another local company makes the wicking fiber stuff as used in Sharpies and felt tip pens.  Apparently very simple IF you knew how they did it. Of course there's the recipes for Coke and Dr. Pepper.
Reply:Originally Posted by chep58Thank U folks for the replies. I am going to talk to an attorney and see where it goes.
Reply:chep58http://www.uspto.gov/Is the last word . . .Due to the enormity of the USPTO - it may take a while 'to navigate to your question'. Research all divisions - it is not time wasted - eventually you will discover where you need to be.Once there: I found this level to be user friendly, with multiply levels of explanation.  'The truth is out there' - ah no​ - it's in the USPTO . Opus
Reply:Even if someone copies your patent you're not likely to get any money unless you have really deep pockets. Usually a stop work order will prevent the copier from selling any more but they'll still keep all the money they made. Patents can take years and cost thousands and thousands.
Reply:Originally Posted by fpsIf it's actually worth something, the Chinese believe there is no such thing as a patent. Copying is their normal way of doing business.