I have an invention, what should I do?

[Linda]

I have an invention idea that I want to put into market. I don't want to submit to invention help company. Because in 2006 I had one invention idea. I was looking for that product but there was't in the market. So I contacted, Davison company. The rep called me, interviewed me and let me filled up form about the idea. I submitted everything. Then they required a fee for an evaluation, which I didn't have money that time.
So, I did not pursue it, but a year later I saw the product in Walmart shelf.
This time I have another invention idea, but I want to pursue myself before I submitted to any company.

I need some info....Thanks.

[Susan Pevensie]

you should probably get a loan and patent it qickly so that you let people know you came up with ti first. and make sure on one elce thought of the idea otherwise if it is out already other people can blame you for stealing their ideas.

[Jake]

First go to the U.S. patent office and do a preliminary search to verify that the idea is indeed unique, a surprising amount of the time it's not as original as you think, that walmart product might have just been a coincidence http://patft.uspto.gov/
You may find some education material there as well.

There is a preliminary patent that is relatively cheap (sorry I don't recall the term) I have heard something about being to retroactively patent a product idea up to a year after first putting it on the market, being first to market may be key.

Those invention assistance services are beter known for ripping people off in service fees for lame ideas (most of them) that never succeed, and not so much for actually stealing and implementing the idea, if you had paid them earlier you may not have had any greater protection, any contracts protecting you should have been inked before you shared the idea.

I saw a PBS TV profile on Quirky.com a "crowd sourcing product inception" site. There are some 400k free members, and a $10 submission fee involved in getting an idea considered, the TV program featured a flexible power strip that accommodates a mix of wall warts, some inventor royalties have amounted to $600,000.
This may be an alternative for those who don't have the thousands to pay a service that states right in their disclaimer that most inventions are not successful.