Time frame at this point is uncertain because I have no idea what goes on at the patent office. All I know is its a waiting game. And Eric you are the first of many skeptics I am sure. As with every other product out there, this will not be for everyone. But I think for many it will change the game and that's what I am going for. Originally I built this for myself with no intention of marketing anything but after using it a few times of course I caught some eyes and started getting asked where they could get one or if id make them one. That's when I decided to look into getting it available to everyone. What I have working to my advantage as far as time right now is that its past the idea stage and its a real life functioning piece of equipment that could be sold as is. It does not look home made. I had everything machined from CAD files I created and shipped to me and I built it in my garage. So that was a big part of it that I took care of myself without even knowing it.
Have you paid patent attorneys to do a prior art patent search? Did you have all of the people who you exposed the product to sign NDA’s?
Assuming both of those boxes are checked, and the searches didn’t return anything that would narrow the scope of your patent so much as to make it worthless, and your idea doesn’t exist in the public sphere, you’re looking at a handful of months for patent application to be received and achieve the PP status.
Are you just doing a US patent or international? Now that you’ve put yourself onto the internet with the idea, you’ll likely have folks from foreign lands watching, with little care for your US patent.
What I’m curious of, is how you can sell enough to make enough money to cover costs of patent applications, attorneys fees, insurance, etc. let’s say you charge 200.00 conservatively(I can’t imagine anyone paying more than that), and it costs you 50.00 to make it, add in all that overhead, 15.00 for shipping, and maybe you make 100.00 a pop?
Selling a few hundred probably gets to close to break even on startup costs, not considering your time. Maybe 1000 of them pays a second person to handle order taking and shipping. It’s a really small niche market you’re going after - a common issue with startup businesses.
I guess what I’m saying, is you like us enough to spend all your free time making our lives easier? If so, bravo! But you could end up there just as easily by making the product and sharing it with your people, with way less money, risk, and effort.
If you’re just securing a patent and selling the intellectual property, it’s slightly less risky. But all return really goes out the window.
I’m sure you’ve though through all of this stuff. Securing a patent doesn’t offer full protection either. I’m curious to learn what kind of team you’re employing to draw up the application. They are not all equal and you do get what you pay for.
All this goes out the window if you truly have a ground breaking 0 to 1 type product. You’ll sell thousands of them and be paid handsomely. My advice would be that if it is this type of product, delete this thread, delete your account here, have everyone you know sign NDA’s(even your mom), and keep your mouth shut until the patent application has been received. Loose lips sink ships.
Good luck, I’ve got my popcorn ready!
. If it's a good product that can be an issue. Standards are pretty high (so almost-good products won't gain traction here), but when something works really well supplier capacity tends to be exceeded.