How to Patent an Invention

There are things that all inventors have in common: an idea they're passionate about, the resourcefulness to put it to life, and the organizational skills to put it on the market. These skills aren't always easy to come by, but to the skeptical idea holder, they aren't far out of reach. One may hear success stories about past inventors of the light bulb, the telephone and even the personal computer. All of these individuals made fortunes that can often not be fathomed by the average human being. Since fortunes aren't often obtained, it's rather simple to think that the average inventor won't get very far. Since all inventions require a financial investment and a time investment, the easy notion is to think that there are better things to do with your time.

This just plain is not true. Although it is apparent that there are many walls to hit, getting your first patent can be a lifetime achievement. Think of the pride and sense of accomplishment you'll feel if you convince the gurus of patent law - the US Patent and Trademark Office - that you, yourself created something that might be beneficial to the lives of people today and for years to come. When you visit a friend's home, or even a stranger's home, and you see your product in plain view, ready to use, you can enjoy the dignity of knowing that something you did make this person's life better.

The best way to attack the job of coming up with a patentable idea is to be realistic. You may have conjured up a mixture of chemicals that cleans your bathroom better than any other product you have tried. You may have dreamed about a toy that you would have loved to play with as a child, but it still doesn't exist. Or, you may have watched someone struggle with a machine for the umpteenth time, knowing in the back of your mind just how you would change the machine so that it worked better. All of these thoughts could be invention-related epiphanies, you just have to entertain the thoughts a bit longer than the few seconds you normally would. Therefore, to become an inventor, you must give yourself some credit for being momentarily innovative, and expand those moments to much longer periods of time.

You also have to have a tangible plan. Draw out a schedule and estimate just how much money and time this will cost you. If this novel idea of yours requires materials or time that you just can't obtain, then it may be that you'll have to reconsider whether to build on it or not. Also, be sure not to expect too much success at once. It's very likely that the first time you put together your signature concoction, it won't work. When Thomas Edison was developing the light bulb, he had to develop hundreds of different kinds of burnable filaments before he came up with the carbon-based filament found to be the longest lasting. Edison, in inventing the light bulb, did more than just light up our homes, he became an inspiration and an example for inventors everywhere, demonstrating persistence, dedication and flexibility.

Despite the fact that Edison was definitely a special case, many inventors have followed in his footsteps. Everywhere you look in your life you'll find many items that have been patented. Think of each of those items growing from an idea just like yours, and you'll have the confidence to go out there and make your idea part of history.