Thanks for responding, I appreciate it!<p>I&#x27;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&#x27;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&#x27;ve identified, and essentially becoming the CEO of a start-up.<p>The risk profile isn&#x27;t very healthy for me, in that I&#x27;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&#x27;s merit, then &#x27;cornering&#x27; the market for the device is really a good move if there&#x27;s a genuine plan and will to capitalize on it.<p>I do have a co-worker who has just finished patenting and is now marketing his device, so I&#x27;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&#x27;d be a real fluke if somebody else managed to invent the same thing and file first haha!