where the first place to look if there is a patent on something?
156758
If you have the patent nbr then look it up at the USPTO: \nhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/srchnum.htm\nEG: US Patent 5,146,634\n\nIf you dont know the patent nbr you can use the site to search for keywords and find it.\nhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/search-adv.htm\n\nIf it is a foreign patent there is a good chance you can find it using the EPO website.\nhttp://www.european-patent-office.org\n\nUnfortunately this can be a very expensive endeavor. There are firms who routinely charge $1500 - $3000 to get the true answers.  They have access to very expensive databases of patents and prior art.  IE: If your proposed invention has *ever* been detailed in a public document it is not patentable! Beware of the many sites who charge you only $295 for an 'inventor' search.  Most times these search results are extremely shallow and fall apart under close examination.  They just want your $300!  Do the search yourself at the free USPTO website. If it's a good idea you'll eventually need some serious money to get your invention safely and properly patented. I think the USPTO charges around $500 to process your application. They have 3-4 thousand examiners who will search for prior patents and prior art.  But they can be wrong too cuz there search is not exhaustive. They have a huge backlog of applications.
214285
Get general information from the USPTO website:\nhttp://www.uspto.gov/index.html\n\nFind a licensed patent attorney.  The USPTO has a roster:\nhttp://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/olia/oed/roster/index.html
967825
NOLO is a great, free informational site. Also, be sure to read what the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) has to say about patents.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* From Patent To Profit: Secrets & Strategies For The Successful Inventor, Third Edition by Bob Dematteis\n* How to License Your Million Dollar Idea: Everything You Need To Know To Turn a Simple Idea into a Million Dollar Payday, 2nd Edition by Harvey Reese\n* The Inventor's Bible: How to Market and License Your Brilliant Ideas by Ronald Louis Docie \n* The Complete Idiot's Guide ® to Cashing in On Your Inventions by Richard Levy\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
663512
Check here:\nhttp://www.uspto.gov/patft/\n\nhttp://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/issuyear.htm
1158850
Even if your idea has already been invented, your idea may still have value if it has a unique twist to it.  The whole product may not be able to be patented by you but any novel part of it may.\n\nDo a prior art search using the on line patent search service and compare what may be already patented with what you have.  Then determine if any refinement you may have is worth the effort of further patent protection.\n\nGood luck.
247649
http://www.uspto.gov/teas/index.html
1032182
Why would you want to show your future invention to a patent lawyer?  If you want to know if it has already been patented by someone else,  That is going to cost you some bucks ($500).\n\nLook around, chances are that if it has already been patented it will be already in use somewhere.  A Google search would be a good start.  If you are serious you may want to conduct a prior art search using the on-line patent search service like the one found at http://www.uspto.gov/patft/\n\nIf you can't find it anywhere, document your idea in a good quality note book (preferably one with a sewn binding) and have someone you trust, outside of the family, witness , sign and date each page.\n\nabove all, don't take it so seriously; have fun with it.
440705
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa080499.htm click d link to find what u r looking for.
404003
http://inventors.about.com/od/patentoffices/a/US_Patent_Offic.htm\n\nhttp://www.inventnet.com/page1.html\n\nhttp://books.google.com/books?q=every+invention+patented+in+the+US&oi=print&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title\n\nhttp://news.google.com/news?q=every+invention+in+the+US&hl=en&lr=&sa=X&oi=news&ct=title\n\nhttp://www.colitz.com/site/wacky.htm\n\nhttp://www.einsteinyear.org/facts/physicsFacts\n\nhttp://www.transfer.ethz.ch/patente/patente_/index_EN
902958
excellent.i have been wondering this for years(serously)If i ever prove this plz dont compete with me for patent.i think we can share the reward.
222641
Check the U.S. patent website, www.uspto.gov.  They have a link for people to get basic information about patents.  That would be a good first step.
1182015
Only place I know if is to check on Ebay.
1000202
NOLO is a great, free informational site. Also, be sure to read what the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) has to say about patents.\n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* From Patent To Profit: Secrets & Strategies For The Successful Inventor, Third Edition by Bob Dematteis\n* How to License Your Million Dollar Idea: Everything You Need To Know To Turn a Simple Idea into a Million Dollar Payday, 2nd Edition by Harvey Reese\n* The Inventor's Bible: How to Market and License Your Brilliant Ideas by Ronald Louis Docie \n* The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Cashing in On Your Inventions by Richard Levy\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
207499
Check the US Patent Office (they cover trademarks) to see how to search and apply for trademark.
60795
From pantent agents call them up and theyll help you get your items patented heres a list of all of the ones in the US\n\nhttp://yellowpages.superpages.com/listings.jsp?SRC=411&C=patent&R=N&STYPE=S&MC=1&OO=1&F=1&CP=Legal+%26+Financial%5ELegal+Services%5EIntellectual+Property%5EPatent+Services%5EPatent+Agents
563271
You can patent the idea alone; they don't make you prove that it works.  Patents exist for devices that are physically impossible, such as perpetual motion machines.
588132
A patent is a federal office thing. You may want to look for a local patent repository to learn about other inventions and search the records. (a repository is a duplicate of the records in the patent office in Washington).\nOtherwise, go to http://www.uspto.gov\nor look in the yellow pages under "Attorneys" and look for one that knows patenting law.