Thanks for responding, I appreciate it! I've got a local support guy who caters to small timers and will file a full one for $5k. His lookup fee is also very g

Thanks for responding, I appreciate it! I've got a local support guy who caters to small timers and will file a full one for $5k. His lookup fee is also very good for an individual like me. I can afford it, at least for one device. I'm just on the fence about doing it though, because it means I have to spend lots of time, energy, effort in producing a prototype, getting it in front of markets I've identified, and essentially becoming the CEO of a start-up. The risk profile isn't very healthy for me, in that I'd be a lot more comfortable signing away future income as a percentage than to have the objective as a side project. You make a really excellent point about value though - my consult with the patent attorney pointed out that if there's merit, then 'cornering' the market for the device is really a good move if there's a genuine plan and will to capitalize on it. I do have a co-worker who has just finished patenting and is now marketing his device, so I've got some guidance and support in that arena. Reluctance sucks. But I guess the nice part about inventing something really clever - and patent worthy - is knowing it'd be a real fluke if somebody else managed to invent the same thing and file first haha!