Anyone ever invented anything?

[cowmilker]

I have this invention thought up and I have been thinking about talking to an attorney, making a prototype, and applying for a patent. It will be an electronic device that will provide law enforcement agencies a tool to better enforce a traffic law (ya ya I know that radar guns have already been invented), but that is all I will say for now.
This is one of those things that will have many people saying "why didn't I think of that".
Has anyone ever applied for a patent? Anyone know a patent attorney that is good and cheap (I know you get what you pay for).
I don't have a prototype yet just an idea, should I get a prototype before I talk to an an attorney?

 

[Brett]

Laser guns exist too

 

[spencurai]

Remember that a patent is only as good in as much as you are willing to prosecute those that infringe upon it.

Someone can rip you off for years until you pony up and sue them, the best way to make your money is to get that prototype built and get to the market FAST before someone else beats you or rips you off. Think of how many "Patent Pending" stickers you see on stuff...Do it fast!!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Get on it ASAP. The patent process can take many, many years... and if comes down to who thought of it first. Once you tell someone (I think?) about the idea, you have just 2 years to make it happen or it is fair game.

 

[Seth]

Patents take several years to obtain. That is way you see some many items with patent pending on them. The attorneys fees range depending on how much research is involved and how many times they turn you down with a request for further explanation. You need to do some cost benefit analysis. In my experience if the idea is good enough (and by good enough I mean it will make a s***ton of money) then you need to have a company built around the product. You are going to need the capital that investors provide in order to obtain the patent and protect it. If on the other hand it is a quick in and out like a widget that will get knocked off in china anyway then branding becomes more important then the product itself. In addition to patents you need trademark protection. This is a legal battle in and of itself. Basically what my experience tells me is if you don't have 100k to spend, find someone who does. VC's know the procedure because they have been through it many times before and will get your product to market much faster. They will want control of the idea, so be ready to forfeit 50%+. But 40% of millions is still better then 100% of 0.

 

[cowmilker]

OK that helps. I had thought about trying to sell just the idea to a few companies, but then I figured without a specific scematic on this thing they could just take my idea (this is pretty simple, I'm no rocket scientist) and make one and market it, and if I was going to make a scematic then I could just make one and do it myself. Then there comes the issue of me being a stupid milkman and having no money.

 

[Seth]

Yeah, it is hard. You can have the best idea and even legal protection for the idea. But if you don't have the funds to back up the legal action someone is going to run you over anyway. I know some VC's that are trust worthy, they will give you a honest opinion. But you still need a non-disclousre agreement at bare minimum.

http://www.worldwin.com/NDA FMB.pdf

If you need some names send me a pm.

 

[cowmilker]

I am thinking about getting a relative or a close friend (someone with more electronics knowledge than I) to help me develop a prototype. Then I will go from there.
Thanks for the input guys!