VenomHP,

Don't get discouraged over the patent. It is hard, but don't. You have a great idea (not sure what it is), and it is such a good idea that other people felt strongly enough about it to follow their dreams with the same idea. I would suggest to contact the person who had the original patent, hunt them down, and try and talk to them face to face with everything you have on the table. More than likely years have gone by since their patent, and for some reason it just never got off the ground. You never know, two people trying to figure it out may work (especially since you are already on the same wavelength). You have nothing to lose, put yourself in their shoes. Imagine someone with drawings or a semi-functional prototype coming to you in a few years. You would be honored that someone has the same thought process, and determination as you. Don't just sit back and let the time run out.

 

Also where-ever this other person might have faltered and given up, you might have already thought of the solution, and together you could both accomplish what you had originally intended!!
Best of luck man!!

 

that is sig material right there!

the best of luck to you and your family!! dont give up! the most succesfull people in the country have failed numerous times!!

 

Thanks guys- Im not depressed or anything, it was a little heart breaking at first but Im still tossing ideas around. Thanks for the encouragement though-

 

If you guys are interested I can look up the patent numbers in the book I have for the similar idea-I can do that later this weekend or something

 

yes, I am very interested.

 

As am I... My brother and I are about to attempt to patent a design. We found something similar, but we feel that we've improved on the design enough that we have a shot at possibly getting it done.

 

patent- US 2009/0322163

I think thats the right number to look up

 

http://www.google.com/patents/about?...S+2009/0322163

 

yup, thats one thats kinda close, has some similar traits that are too close to patent, but other parts that I could patent with a few changes because of other patents...