If you’ve come up with an ingenious invention or novel idea that you want to protect, you’ll need to file for a patent. While some intellectual property rights attorneys can do the legwork for you, the process is meant to be straightforward enough that inventors can do it on their own.
Useful Tips for Getting a Patent for Your Project
Here are four tips for patenting your project to protect it.
1. Understand Your Invention
Before you can hope to get a patent, you need to gain a thorough understanding of your invention. That might be simple since you created it. But you should be able to answer a few specific questions. Namely, what is new or unique about your product? And what makes it useful? You may also wish to explore whether there are broader uses for your product.
This part of the process requires some research as well. Specifically, you will need to establish that no one else has a current patent for something similar. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requires that you disclose any patent, publication, or other written documents you know of that are relevant to your application.
2. Choose the Type of Protection
Next, you’ll want to choose the type of protection you will apply for through the USPTO. Three different types are available:
- Utility patent — Protects inventions such as machines, systems, or processes.
- Design patent — Protects the exterior look or design of an invention.
- Plant patent — Protects an investigation of new plant variants.
In some cases, your invention may qualify for more than one of these.
3. File Your Patent Application
Completing your patent application can be a challenging process because the paperwork can be rejected for formal or technical reasons. Make sure you follow the instructions to the letter and double-check your work.
4. Await Your Formal Response
Once you file your patent application and pay the fee, you can expect to wait a year or longer for a response. The examiner may let you know that your idea isn’t unique or that you have failed to explain it clearly enough. You can respond to them with additional information and prototypes.
Create a Prototype for Your Idea or Project
Having a prototype of your invention or project is a useful step in securing protection for it. When you work with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, having a prototype is one of the most beneficial ways of demonstrating your concept of an item.
At Components By Design, one of our specialties is helping clients create a full-scale, functional form of a new product design to use for demonstrations and testing. We will put our more than 15 years of experience with CAD/CAM solutions and CNC routing to work on your project. Contact us today to get started.