My mom has an invention that she has patented. It has been nearly 6 years since she has applied and finally on the way to making the molds from the prototype. She has a 10 year patent and no one can make anything similar to her inverntion for that period of time. It has cost her a fortune, but she will make more than a fortune when she markets it.
She did not go thru the "invention submission" companies, she went to a patent attorney. (the one who helped patent the hair bandini)

He said be leary of places like that, you are more likely to lose the rights to your invention that way. You'll need the patent offices to do a thorough search to make sure no one else has applied for a patent on an item similar to yours.
hth's
__________________
Still around, living, loving, and laughing. Lost 47 lbs in the last year. Down from a size 16 to a size 7.
Read or Leave me Feedback Here!
Me and my girls
Summer's new haircut, we cut 10 inches off and donated to locks of love.
Rach