Come along for the ride!!

[reykjavik]

Ok, well as I stated in one of my questions below I am in the process
of patenting something. Thanks to all of you for the amazing advice
and mentoring, patent searches seem obvious, but nothing is obvious to
a true beginner.

But I digress, I have good news. I paid for a patent search ($500,
which I thought was reasonable considering I hired a NYC attorney). He
had said that a lot of people come to him with great basic simple
inventions only to find out that their idea had been patented in 1875.
So he warned me not to get my hopes up. Word came back that,
surprisingly, no one had patented it yet which Im very excited about.
What I plan to do is get a provisonal patent at this point and create a
bona fide visual working prototype. So I figured I'd come back to the
place that got me started and ask your opinion.

Do you know of any reputable prototyping companies? Total guestimation
as to cost? I had an engineer friend of mine blueprint the product but
its only on paper, I would still need to sit down with someone that
creates prototypes for a living and see what they feel needs to be
changed/modified for the sake of a proto. Average time it takes?

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks again!

[ThinkSolveDo]

Prototyping is easy. There are many companies that do this. If your
friend made 3D drawings for you can use a service like
www.QuickParts.com or www.ProtoMold.com. Each will cost different
depending on the size of the prototype and the complexity. BUT... you
should file your patent as soon as you know it will work the correct
way. You do NOT need a prototype to file a patent. BUT you can learn
from the prototyping stage and that information can make your patent
stronger.

FYI: A Provisional Patent DOES NOT PROTECT ANYTHING! It only sets a
date for you and give you time to file a REAL PATENT! You cannot stop
someone from making your invention or charge royalties through a
Provisional Patent and you STILL NEED TO FILE a REAL PATENT APPLICATION
to get rights so you are NOT SAVING ANY MONEY.

Best of luck to you!

[reykjavik]

Thanks for the information. I spoke to my lawyer and we decided on a
provisional patent which will give me time to finish school, work out
the kinks with a prototype, and then patent it when Ive gotten it all
up and working.

But Im still a bit confused. Assuming my engineer friend is not
capable of creating a CAD file, do I just call up a prototyping
company? If I do, what do I say, do I just describe my idea and hope
they know what Im talking about? Do I meet with an eingineer to
discuss it? and if so, then why bother with prototyping web sites
located in states that are not close to me (I live in NYC). Im just a
bit confused as to how I do this. Also, do they sign an NDA?

Sorry for all the questions, I just feel its not worth going through
trial and error if there is someone out there that may have gone
through it already.

Thanks
Evan

[Bob Huehn]

Contact Jack Lander at 203-264-1130 up until 9:00 PM East Coast time. He
has 30 years experience in hands-on prototyping and provides inventor
mentoring services. Visit www.inventor-mentor.com
or contact Ja...@inventor-mentor.com.