Well, initially you have to familiarize yourself with how a patent process works. America Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) administers patents to inventors who can prove there's a novel idea that nobody else has done before. Even though many people claim that there's really nothing new on the planet, in reality, in 2009 there have been over 400,000 U.S. patents filed. So, other inventors will be more than willing to keep solving the earth's difficulties with original ideas.
When you're just beginning the patent process, the very first thing you should do is make sure that you document your entire idea in writing. This consists of documenting every little benefit with how your invention is designed and just how it'll work. The harder details you record, the harder unique the thought becomes. The truth is, while there may be another product that is analogous, it can't be exactly like yours. Your invention must be alone of it's kind to be able to be eligible for a patent protection.
Another thing you need to do would be to search for patents that are already on record that may be similar or exactly the same as your idea. If somebody has thought it up and declared the patent, you're out of luck. Let's pretend that you will be located on an idea to get a really cool ipod that can store digital music therefore it may also store a lot of photos and other cool stuff. It's a really sleek design and includes detachable earplugs. Hmmm. That sounds an awful lot as an iPod, and you're right. You can't file a patent for a portable music player seems and processes just like what's already available on the market.
However, in the event you came up with a music player that could bounce just like a ball and glows at night, now that could be something could patent as unique. Anyway, you need to do an intensive patent search to ensure your idea hasn't already been claimed by another person. This can be achieved yourself, or pay a professional to conduct the quest for you.
Once you have revealed that nobody else has thought of the bouncing very good music player, you would like to spend some money on getting a prototype made. A prototype is really a demo form of your product or service that lets you see how it works in real life. If you don't locate an investor, the cash because of this will have to come out of your own personal pocket.
Now it's time to visit the USPTO and file a credit card applicatoin for any provisional patent. This is simply not the last patent, however a preliminary the one that allows you to keep taking care of marketing your invention while giving you full legal protection. For instance, there's a company interested in marketing the bouncing very good music player, however they would like you to produce a few tweaks. Make the tweaks after which make an application for the last patent. You are then ready to license it towards the highest bidder to make big money.