Sex Toy Help

[mrjoint]

A friend of mine is designing a sex toy and wants to file for patent. Any pointers where / who she can contact.

Thank you in advance guys.

[fatfoo]

Try searching search engines:
http://www.yahoo.com
http://www.google.com
http://www.msn.com
http://www.bing.com

[DateDoc]

A patent attorney.

[DaddyHalbucks]

Patents are very expensive.

What's his business plan? If he has the resources to make them and sell them, it might work. If his business plan is licensing it as soon as the ink is dry on the patent, I'd advise against it.

[DateDoc]

How do you come to the conclusion that patents are very expensive? Maybe we have a different idea of expensive though.

[marketsmart]

Originally Posted by DaddyHalbucks

Patents are very expensive.

What's his business plan? If he has the resources to make them and sell them, it might work. If his business plan is licensing it as soon as the ink is dry on the patent, I'd advise against it.

you can get a provisional application which protects him for one year until he files for a patent.

the fees a quite a bit lower and will give him some time to test the market while protecting his idea...





.

[ArsewithClass]

In the UK its a reasonable cost & is easy to arrange. Has the US not a patenting office like the UK?
http://www.ipo.gov.uk//

[Ron Bennett]

Originally Posted by DateDoc

A patent attorney.

Exactly.

(all references of "you" below are referring to your friend)

Imho, avoid those places that claim they'll help you with your idea.

Ask around / research experienced patent attorneys and choose one to assist you through the patent process.

Patent costs, depending on the scope of the patent / your motivation / time horizon, can be huge ... ie. $5K to even get the ball rolling, and $20K-$50K to get the patent ... and then there are the maintenance fees, which are sizable.

Imho, have at least $25K available to spend (cash, credit line, investors, etc) before even bothering with patenting.

And also be aware that patents are not global ... so if seeking to fully protect it in numerous other countries, there's a lot more paperwork involved adding even more cost.

Bottom line is assess your budget and contact an experienced patent attorney to determine how to best proceed.

Ron

[mrjoint]

Originally Posted by Ron Bennett

Exactly.

(all references of "you" below are referring to your friend)

Imho, avoid those places that claim they'll help you with your idea.

Ask around / research experienced patent attorneys and choose one to assist you through the patent process.

Patent costs, depending on the scope of the patent / your motivation / time horizon, can be huge ... ie. $5K to even get the ball rolling, and $20K-$50K to get the patent ... and then there are the maintenance fees, which are sizable.

Imho, have at least $25K available to spend (cash, credit line, investors, etc) before even bothering with patenting.

And also be aware that patents are not global ... so if seeking to fully protect it in numerous other countries, there's a lot more paperwork involved adding even more cost.

Bottom line is assess your budget and contact an experienced patent attorney to determine how to best proceed.

Ron

Thanks ron, I'll let her know.

[nikki99]

Originally Posted by DateDoc

A patent attorney.

good advice

[EmporerEJ]

Originally Posted by marketsmart

you can get a provisional application which protects him for one year until he files for a patent.

the fees a quite a bit lower and will give him some time to test the market while protecting his idea...





.

Yea, but you give up most of your international protections.