Time to Start on the Patent Application

Okay, time to start filling out the Provisional Patent Application. http://www.uspto.gov/forms/sb0016_fill.pdf
I seem to be lacking on some drawings and specifications. I will need to investigate how intense this needs to be.

Provisional Patent

Straight from the USPTO website. http://www.uspto.gov/patents/index.jsp

"Provisional Application for Patent Filing Date Requirements
The provisional application must be made in the name(s) of all of the inventor(s). It can be filed up to 12 months following the date of first sale, offer for sale, public use, or publication of the invention. (These pre-filing disclosures, although protected in the United States, may preclude patenting in foreign countries.)
A filing date will be accorded to a provisional application only when it contains:
a written description of the invention, complying with all requirements of 35 U.S.C. §112 1 st paragraph and any drawings necessary to understand the invention, complying with 35 U.S.C. §113 . If either of these items are missing or incomplete, no filing date will be accorded to the provisional application.
To be complete, a provisional application must also include the filing fee and a cover sheet identifying:
the application as a provisional application for patent;
the name(s) of all inventors;
inventor residence(s);
title of the invention;
name and registration number of attorney or agent and docket number (if applicable);
correspondence address; and
any US Government agency that has a property interest in the application.
Form PTO/SB/16, available on the printable forms page of the USPTO website at http://www.uspto.gov/forms/sb0016_fill.pdf be used as the cover sheet for a provisional application."

Back To Work

Hello.
Well I am back to work on this project. I have been busy with work and life, but I am ready to start the ball rolling again on my idea/invention. I never really quit working on the idea but things have been moving slow and I have not been updating my blog.
Latest Developments:
I have reworked the design of my invention. After tinkering with the initial prototype (by the way there is a prototype), I had a couple of issues that needed to be solved. I have reworked the design using a piece of equipment I found at a cooking supply store. This item worked nicely at addressing the issues that I encountered with the initial invention.
I contacted a company. I sent an email to a company that specializes in items such as my invention to gauge their interest. Their response was positive, they told me they would be happy to look at my invention but not until I had patented it.
Next Step: Patent Pending

Path of a Utility Patent

The most appropriate patent for my particular idea is a Utility Patent. While I am not going to discuss what my idea is on this blog until I have properly protected, I will divulge that it has mechanical parts and is not ornamental in nature, oh and it is not a plant. So a Utility Patent is the way to go.
At the time of this blog there are two different paths to take for a Utility Patent, the traditional path and what is called the Provisional Patent. Both are valid paths to take each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
The traditional path. . .
The Provisional Patent. . .