Do It Yourself Patents

Do It Yourself Patents SPECIALTY/SERVICES Specialty/Services 7-6-33 Inventor Joseph Molitorisz Bellevue, Wash., files and executes his own patents without the aid of a patent attorney. He thinks every inventor should do the same. Molitorisz is the inventor and manufacturer of a new baler (featured in FARM SHOW'S Vol. 6, No. 1 issue) that makes square bales about the size and density of conventional round bales, with one rounded end that sheds rain when stacked in the field. Critics say it's difficult or even impossible for most inventors to put together viable patents on their own, but Molitorisz says he's disproved all that. "I've obtained 18 patents on my own and all have been sold or licensed to other manufacturers, clear proof that you can do it on your own. I sold one patent to a major manufacturer for $250,000, so I must be doing something right. I don't think they would have bought it if it had been a poor patent." When Molitorisz invents a new machine, he first goes to the nearest library that contains patent records ù most large cities have one or two patent centers ù and pulls all the patents he can find on machines similar to his invention. When he is relatively certain that he has indeed come up with something new, he then uses the similar patents as a pattern for writing his own patent application, filling in the different wording and claims for his machine but following the order of the other documents. "You must be logical, clear and concise. By reading the patents you get an idea of the wording needed," he says, noting that the first application doesn't have to be perfect since patent examiners carefully examine each application, pointing out mistakes. Once written, Molitorisz submits his application, along with drawings and the required filing fee. The first thing the patent office does is pull all similar patents and send them to him. In effect, he says, the patent office does a complete search, a service for which most inventors pay hundreds of dollars before they even apply. Then, examiners go through the patent itself, usually rejecting it for one reason or another. "I've always found examiners to be very helpful and cooperative. They point out mistakes and make suggestions, calling me at their own expense to help make the patent stronger," he notes. Once a patent is rejected, the applicant has three months to fix it up and send it back. Molitorisz says that, at this point, you can go to a patent attorney if help is needed to get it in shape. "Some patent attorneys in Seattle are charging $120 an hour for patent work so I would encourage inventors to try to work it out on their own. You can get help from inexpensive patent office publications that explain the whole process," he says. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Joseph Molitorisz, 15326 S.E. 43rd Road, Bellevue, Wash. 98006 (ph 206 392-3990).

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