BTW, the patent office is one of the more successful gov't agencies taking in hundreds of millions anually. They processed 355,400 applications in 2003 approving half. For 2005, they expect to take in 1.5 billion. They are adding something like
1600 new patent examiners to meet the needs for this year.
Here is the source of that info. A good and timely read. I don't know if it goes on to say, but VERY few patents ever result in making any money, especially for the inventor.
The most likely source of any money is the the manufacturer of the machine that the device is for. And they will try to say they already have that idea on file. Like he said, the world of patents is not for the uninitiated.
For the device you describe, a patent is probably a good way to go. For novelty items, time is of the esscence. Copyrights on packaging and any instructions or text, plus trademarks will get you in the game with enough protection to go to market.
I don't know if there is a patent for the Pet Rock (how could you patent a rock??), but the idea is heavily protected in name and package design. And all of that was immediate. Patents take many months, if not years to complete. The next guy with a rock to sell as a companion was left with "companion stone." (Or was that stoned companion?) In a sack, yet, not a box. Doesn't cut it. (Even that might have been too close.)