Patent Attorney Referrals & Engineering Support
To be clear up front: One Stop Inventing does not file patents and does not give legal advice. Patents are legal documents, and only a registered patent attorney or patent agent should prepare and file yours. What we do is connect you with independent registered patent attorneys we trust, and give them the engineering information they need to write a strong application.
Why engineering matters in a patent
A patent protects what its claims describe, nothing more. A vague description of an early idea can lead to narrow claims that a competitor can design around with a small change. A patent written around a finished, engineered design is usually stronger, because:
- The attorney can see exactly how the invention works, not just what it is supposed to do.
- Engineering often uncovers better versions of the idea. Those variations can be described in the application too.
- Precise CAD and technical drawings make it easier to prepare the formal drawings the patent office requires.
- You avoid paying to patent a feature that later turns out to be impossible or too expensive to manufacture.
What we hand your patent attorney
After our engineering work, we put together a technical package for your attorney:
- 3D CAD models and technical views of the final design, which the attorney or a patent illustrator can use to prepare formal patent drawings
- A written technical description of how the invention works: components, materials, mechanisms and how they interact
- Design variations our engineers explored, which may help the attorney describe alternatives
- Prototype photos and video showing the invention working
- A bill of materials (BOM) and manufacturing notes when relevant
- The patent landscape from your Preliminary Engineering Review: existing patents and products we found that may matter for your business and engineering decisions. This is research to help your attorney get started, not a legal opinion on whether your idea is patentable or infringes anything. Those questions are for your attorney.
The attorney you choose works for you, and decisions about what and when to file are made between you and your attorney.
When to file: before or after the prototype?
Most of our clients engineer and prototype first under an NDA, and then file once the design is final. That's usually the order we recommend, because the patent can then cover the invention as it will really be made and sold.
There are exceptions, and they are legal questions for your attorney:
- Before any public disclosure. Showing the idea online, at a trade show, on a crowdfunding page or in a sale can affect your patent rights, especially outside the US. Talk to an attorney before you go public.
- A provisional application gives you "patent pending" status for 12 months while you develop the product. Your attorney can tell you whether filing one early makes sense for you.
- If you already have a patent or a pending application, we start from it. Our Engineering Review is built for inventors with an existing patent or design.
Read more in Do You Need a Patent Before Making a Prototype?
Types of patent protection, in plain English
| Type | What it protects | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Utility patent | How an invention works and is used: its function and mechanism | The most common type for functional inventions. Generally lasts 20 years from filing once granted. |
| Design patent | How a product looks: shape and ornamental appearance | Useful when the look is a selling point. Lasts 15 years from grant. |
| Provisional application | Holds a filing date for 12 months | Gives "patent pending" status. It is never examined and expires unless a full (nonprovisional) application is filed within 12 months. |
Your attorney will tell you which one, or which combination, fits your invention.
How it works with One Stop Inventing
- Submit your idea under our mutual NDA.
- Preliminary Engineering Review (about 3 to 4 weeks): feasibility, manufacturing plan, market look, patent landscape and prototyping quotes.
- Engineering and prototype: we design and build it until it works.
- Attorney referral: we introduce you to an independent registered patent attorney and send them your engineering package.
- Manufacturing and launch: while your application moves forward, we keep building toward production.
You keep 100% of your intellectual property
Your idea, your designs, your files and your patents belong to you. We don't take royalties or equity, and the patent is filed in your name by your attorney.
Frequently asked questions
Do you file patents?
No. We're an engineering and product development company. Patents are filed by registered patent attorneys or agents. We refer you to one and support them with engineering.
Do you give legal advice about patents?
No. Our patent landscape research helps you and your attorney make decisions, but questions about patentability, infringement and filing strategy are for your attorney.
Do I need a patent before I talk to you?
No. We sign a mutual NDA before you share the details of your idea.
Can you make my patent drawings?
We provide CAD models and technical views that make formal drawings much easier to prepare. Formal patent drawings must follow patent office rules, so your attorney or a patent illustrator finalizes them.
I already have a patent. Can you build it?
Yes. Our Engineering Review is built for inventors who already have a patent or a design and want to get it prototyped and manufactured.
Do I have to use the attorney you refer?
No. You can use any registered patent attorney or agent, and we'll send the engineering package to them.
Start with a confidential review
One Stop Inventing is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Patent attorneys referred by One Stop Inventing are independent professionals. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent about your specific situation.