A preliminary process for an inventor to check whether an invention will be patentable and worthy of spending money and time to file a patent application.
1
Determining Invention Aspects
Contemplate the basic and optional aspects of an invention.
2
Web Search Engine
Utilizing Google or other search engines, enter search terms related to your invention. Determine if anything is published or on sale which is similar or identical to your invention.
3
Patent Office Search
If you are feeling adventurous, go to the US Patent Office website (USPTO.gov) and use the search tool to conduct a similar search to Step 2. Many inventions which have been patented, or for which applications have been filed, never make it to the market shelf. So, even if you do not find something on Google, you may discover it at the USPTO.
4
Compare and Refine
From your search results, you can get a good idea of what aspects of your invention, if any, are new enough on which to file a patent application.
5
Contact a Patent Attorney
If you think you may have a winner, contact a licensed patent attorney to discuss options.
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