"J T" wrote in message
...
Mon, Nov 21, 2005, 2:31am (Buddy Matlosz) doth
sayeth:
snip next time you have an idea, snip

Might want to research it first.

You can start he http://www.uspto.gov/. There is help for inventors
with a new invention, and you can check the patent archives to see what has
already been patented. Your patent has to be useful, but it also has to be
novel and non-obvious.

Once you have the patent application filed, you can go ahead and figure out
how to manufacture, distribute and sell it. If you thought the original
invention was a difficult challenge, you will find these to be nearly
insurmountable and it is where most new inventions founder and die. It is a
really good idea to find some company that can already provide these
functions and license the invention to them. Royalty income is a nice
addition to whatever you really live on, and keeps you from having to spend
all your time on activities that probably don't interest you. And even if
you like manufacturing, you may hate distribution or sales.

If you figure out a relatively painless way to solve these problems, let me
know. I have a novelty ruler that measures in astronomical units,
atoparsecs. Every amateur astronomer should have one.

Good luck,
Steve