How do I patent and invention and protect myself against the company stealing my idea?

Question

I have an invention for babies, and I want to patent my idea, but I'm afraid of any company I work with may steal my idea? What's the best way to protect myself so that the moment I reveal my invention, it is safe?

Answer 1

How?  You file an application with the Patent Office.

That sounds simple to say, but first you have to research existing patents to be sure you're not duplicating something that's already patented and aren't trying to patent something that's already in the public domain.

Many people hire a patent attorney to do this research work.  It's time consuming and not cheap.

Once you're sure you've got a new idea or novel variation of an existing one, then you have to document everything.  If you're not keeping a notebook on the development of your idea you'd better start now.  All the entries have to be dated.  And there'd better be pictures or drawings with write-ups that describe the development of your idea.

You can't just patent a notion in your head.  It has to be something tangible.

Answer 2

To protect your rights to the invention, you can file a patent application first, before talking about it to any companies. You can either do that yourself or hire a patent attorney to help you.

Check out http://www.patentengineers.com

It explains how to file a patent, and how patents protect your rights.

Answer 3

First see a Patent attorney.