If you’re an individual inventor, you might consider filing a provisional patent application before building your prototype or developing the product. This provides some protection from other people using your idea without permission. However, it’s not as strong as a regular patent application because it’s not as detailed or complete as you can read from https://sundial.csun.edu/172022/sundialbrandstudio/sundial-marketplace/inventhelp-reviews-inventor-patent-services-for-invention-ideas/ article.
If you’re working in a large company or organization, the first step might be to file a provisional application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and then follow up with more detailed information once the product is ready to go into production.
An inventor can also file for a patent without a prototype. The USPTO has special procedures for this, and it may be helpful if you’re trying to protect an idea that will take a long time to develop or build.
It’s common for inventors to file a provisional patent application first and then follow up with a non-provisional patent application. This can be useful if you’re not sure whether you want to protect your invention or if it’s worth spending money on legal fees. You can also file for a utility model, which is an alternative to patents in many countries but not in the United States.
It’s important to remember that patents only protect your invention for a limited time. You’ll need to pay maintenance fees every year in order to keep your patent valid. The USPTO recommends that inventors file a provisional patent application first, which is much less expensive than a non-provisional patent application and can be filed without a prototype or working model of the invention.
If you’re planning on going ahead with a patent, you’ll need to decide whether or not you want to file as a provisional application first. If this sounds confusing, there are professional patenting agencies like InventHelp that can help you through the process. They’ll make sure that your patent application is filed correctly, and they can also help you market your invention once it’s been patented.
