Who has a Patent?
 

I'm working on an idea with my father and I expect us to pursue a patent on an advanced Power Gen Cycle. He has several in Power gen (Combined cycle systems) and I have one (Gas Turbine cleaning systems).

What Patents do you have?

I don't have one but have researched (talked with a patent attorney) about the costs to obtain one.

I have a finished product for high horsepower harleys that solved a problematic drive belt breakage. It is my understanding that you can file for a patent for under $200.00. You have 1 year from the filing date to follow up and complete the proof for the patent.

During that time you have a "patent pending" which does protect you to some extent. Obtaining the patent (and the amount of $$ you give to a patent attorney) depends on how all-incompassing you want the rights to be.

If you are only patenting the actual "thing" it may not be that big of a deal and $$$ - If you want to patent the actual idea, materials, all inclusive from concept to finished product THAT'S a big deal and lots of $$$$ and may include multiple patents.

The attorney does the required research to make sure no one else has the same or closely similar idea or product. Then when all is absolute they file the appropriate paper with the patent office.

Please note that even if you have a patent pending OR an actual patent that doe not mean that someone won't rip you off and copy YOUR deal and bring it to market in record time.

If you believe that someone has copied / violated your patent or patent pending it is up to you to file and bring action first. Which tranlates into big $$ VERY quickly.

I have 6 patents on batteries and supercapacitors, but they are all owned by my previous company that paid for them. We were given $1 as a contract to give up all rights on IP that we would generate whille working for them. Now in the University we get a better deal: 30% of all royalties and income that our patents generate, but I still have to come up with a new idea...

Aurel

Most recent, US2005/0054541A1 Bearing Cleaning Composition and Method of Use - should get my number this year. Invented it over 6 Guiness Shouts, a hot lounge singer and a pack of Marlboro Lites in Houston TX!

I've prepared and filed several hundred at least: does that count?

I have several patents. One on a programmable controler and another on RF devices, as well as others. I suggest that you keep your ideas secret. Just do it, do not tell anyone how, just do it. Follow up with a patent application if you wish, but by that time its so late you shouldn't care. Do not share with anyone, your ideas, just do them. Once you have made nuff money to pay someone to do this stuff for you, you can play the patent game.

I have five pending from various companies/national-labs through the last couple of years. Fiber manufacturing, atmospheric laser communications, and the entertainment industry. Now that I'm back grad school folks are less aggressive about patenting... for patent it yourself, people keep recommending Nolo publishing's guide.

Don't count chickens before they are hatched. It only counts if you own it.

Very true. I am a little dubious about how worthy some of the ideas were, but the folks who were paying the bill seemed excited enough.

I got one for a remote health care mointoring device, but it is owned by MSFT.

Yes, I have patents on medical devices. About to turn millionaire any day now.. :D

I have several patents for communication systems technology.

My cousin has one for measuring something with electrical gel and brain waves. Sent me a nice coffee cup from the USPO with the details on it.

I had a roommate a while ago who was a patent examiner at the USPTO. I always asked him what he was working on and he always replied it was secret. When I pried, he said the the last two things he had looked over were a nipple ring and a ball gag. BTW, this roommate rigged up a very professional potato gun we always shot in the back yard after stumbling home from the bars.

I have an item which I would like to pursue a patent on. The item as a whole is not new, but it's application is. Can you patent an application?

It would never make me any money, but I would like the patent for no other reason but to show that I INVENTED IT. I guess that's just for bragging rights, but I know some people collect patents like expensive watches.... for bragging rights more than anything.

Its pretty darn expensive bragging rights though - the fees are outrageous if you go world wide. I lived on bread and water until it finally paid of (almost 5 years).

Maybe I should just be happy with the framed blueprints on my office wall, then....

Eventually it was well worth it though. ;)

Go for it if you believe in it. We only go around once.

It could have been worse, he could have worked for Underwriters labs...