What is the Best Way To Research a Patent?

I have an invention in mind and cannot afford the ridiculous attorney fees for patent search and filing. I am going to attempt to search for an existing match of my invention and file on my own patent. What is the best method for doing this? I have been searching on the patent offices website recently but it's like I;m reading a different language. All feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

What is the Best Way To Research a Patent?
You're right, it is like reading a different language. That's why the attorney fees are NOT ridiculous.





Legal work is piece work. If you figure out how much YOU get paid an hour...and then add the cost of paying rent for an office and paying a secretary and Paying for computers and office furniture and patent database services that are more efficient to use that the pto web site...you will see that attorney fees are not that high....





but ...there's nothing wrong with trying to do a search yourself.





I would suggest you try google patents too. It wont help with the other language problem....but at least it provides the drawings.....also, it only has U.S. patents, and not Published Applications or Foreign Patents and applications...but its better than the PTO site....








also...try googling the web in general... chances are someone is already selling something like your invention....
Reply:To file for a patent, follow the instructions at http://www.uspto.gov/main/howdoi.htm