Invention?Where to take it?

Question

Ok, I made a invention and I don't know where i could take it. Ive searched online for info but I cant find anything. Id rather a place I can actually walk into and hand them it and do everything there. I dont know Ive tried looking, maybe Im just looking in the wrong places. I live in the US-Ohio.

Answer 1

First of all, be careful! Read some of the rules and guidelines about patenting that you can find online (try www.uspto.gov). Especially important is something called "disclosure", or telling people, in other words. Basically, if your idea gets out in the public domain before you file a patent, your patent will be useless.

You need to talk to someone who is impartial and knowledgable. Friends and family will all tell you that your idea is great, of course, even if it is a turkey! Patent agents are basically lawyers, remember that. They are not going to say "that's a lousy idea, we don't want to take your money to file your patent"!

Search online for something like an inventors' society or club, and ask their advice. Alternatively, talk about your invention with someone in the industry that your patent covers, but make them sign a non-disclosure contract before you describe it to them. It's not saying that you don't trust them, it is standard practice in industry so they should not have a problem signing it.

The other important thing is to do a really intensive search to check that no-one has thought of this before (called "prior art"). If someone has, then you cannot get a useful patent.

Best of luck with your idea!

Answer 2

Try your local patent office.