Well, initially you need to familiarize yourself with how the patent process works. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) administers patents to inventors who is able to prove there's a novel idea that nobody else has done before. Although people claim that there's really not new in the sunshine, in reality, in '09 there have been over 400,000 U.S. patents filed. So, you can see that other inventors tend to be more than willing to keep solving our planet's issues with original ideas.
When you're just beginning the patent process, the first thing for you to do is ensure that you document your entire idea on paper. This consists of documenting every little aspect of how your invention is designed and how it will work. The more details you record, the harder unique the idea becomes. The truth is, while there could be another product that is similar, it can't be exactly like yours. Your invention must be alone of it's kind to be able to qualify for patent protection.
Another thing you'll have to do is always to look for patents which are already on file that could be similar or identical to your idea. When someone has recently thought up and declared the patent, you're at a complete loss. Let's pretend that you will be sitting on a thought for any really cool ipod that can store digital music also it can also store a bunch of photos along with other cool stuff. It's got a very sleek design and is sold with detachable earplugs. Hmmm. That sounds a great deal such as an iPod, and you are right. You can not file a patent for a ipod seems and processes just like what's already available on the market.
However, in the event you came up with a music player that may bounce being a ball and glows in the dark, now that would be something you could patent as unique. Anyway, you must do a thorough patent search to ensure your idea hasn't already been claimed by someone else. This can be done yourself, or pay an expert to conduct the quest for you.
Once you have established that nobody had the idea of the bouncing mp3 music player, you want to spend cash on getting a prototype made. A prototype is a demo version of your product that allows you to see results for yourself in the real world. If you don't find an investor, the amount of money because of this will need to come out of your own personal pocket.
Now you must to visit the USPTO and file an application to get a provisional patent. This isn't the ultimate patent, but a preliminary one that lets you keep taking care of marketing your invention while providing you with full legal protection. For instance, there exists a company interested in marketing the bouncing music player, however they want you to produce a few tweaks. Result in the tweaks and then apply for the ultimate patent. You are then able to license it towards the highest bidder and make a nice income.