Help on invention - or am I crazy?

[DaveH]

OK, this will sound like a nutjob kind of thing, but I was reading entreprenaurial magazine today in a waiting room, and on the way home came up with an idea that's really great, (at least IMO) conceptually very simple, uses a combination of existing devices and helps avert a problem common in almost every town and city in the US.

Problem is I don't have the electronic ability to put one together myself. So far my web searches haven't turned up anything like it.

How do I even start a project like this?

 

[Gollnick]

Start by making some sketches, diagrams, etc. and writting down a detailed description of your ideas. Do this on paper in ink in your own handwritting. The goal is that anyone who is reasonably skilled in the arts involved could read your description, understand your ideas, and even build your invention. It is not necessary that you design your machine to the detail. You mentioned that you are lacking in electronics skills. That's fine. Just draw a box, document what the inputs to that box are, what it's outputs are, and then write a verbal description of what that box does. Then, sign all of your papers and date them. The surest thing is to get your signature witnessed by a Notary Public. Most banks provide Notary services to customers for free or for a minor fee.

If you want to preserve a patent position, it is important that you do not publically disclose your invention. You can show it to people privately as long as you make it clear to them that this information is being presented to them confidentially. In the US, you can file for a patent up to one year after public disclosure. But, in Europe, you can not file for a patent after any public disclosure.