We are now patent pending! I applied for patents covering six different massage tools, four of which I have built and use myself. There are two others that are just ideas now but very good ones, nonetheless. The process of applying for a patent was long, but very interesting and I’d even say fun. Thanks to my EO friends for recommending I pursue a patent.
It helps to be good mechanically, a good writer, good with CAD software and Photoshop. I have a lot of respect for what patent attorneys do. It’s not a simple job. I used the book titled Patent It Yourself by David Pressman and had a local patent attorney review before submitting.
A couple weeks ago I learned that the patent office was migrating to a new system on March 16, 2013 whereby patents will be awarded based on a ‘first to file‘ basis. The old system of ‘first to invent’ will be shelved so I rushed to finish before the deadline because my inventions took shape in May of 2012 and I wanted to get credit for that earlier date.
Still, I’m not sure exactly how that occurs because nowhere in the application does an inventor specify the invention date. I suppose that only comes to light in the event of some legal action and requires evidence in the form of the invention diary.
Next up – foreign patents.