Protect Your Invention — Without the $7,000 Attorney Bill
You’ve got a great idea. Maybe you’ve already built a prototype. But before you invest thousands more in tooling, manufacturing, or marketing — you need to know two things:
- Has someone already patented this?
- How do you lock in your priority date before someone else does?
PartSnap offers professional patent research and provisional patent filing at a fraction of what patent attorneys charge — because inventors shouldn’t need a trust fund to protect their ideas.
Get Started — Request a Free Consultation
How It Works
Step 1: Tell Us About Your Invention
Share your concept — sketches, CAD models, napkin drawings, voice notes. We’ve seen it all. No judgment, no jargon. We’re engineers, not lawyers.
Step 2: We Search the Patent Landscape
Our team conducts a thorough prior art search across USPTO, WIPO, Google Patents, and international databases. We identify existing patents, potential conflicts, and — just as importantly — the white space where your invention stands apart.
Step 3: You Get a Clear Answer
No “maybe” wrapped in legal disclaimers. You get a detailed report that tells you where your invention sits in the patent landscape, what’s novel about it, and what your options are.
Service Tiers
🔍 Patent Search — $500
A comprehensive prior art search and patentability assessment.
What’s included:
- Search across USPTO, WIPO, EPO, and Google Patents databases
- Analysis of existing patents in your invention’s space
- Identification of potential conflicts and design-around opportunities
- Patentability assessment with clear recommendations
- Detailed written report delivered within 5-7 business days
Best for: Inventors who want to know if their idea is worth pursuing before investing further.
🛡️ Search + Provisional Patent — $1,500
Everything in Patent Search, plus a professionally drafted provisional patent application filed with the USPTO.
What’s included:
- Full prior art search and patentability assessment
- Professionally drafted provisional patent application
- Multiple embodiments and design variations documented
- Technical drawings and detailed descriptions
- USPTO filing handled on your behalf
- 12-month priority date protection
Best for: Inventors ready to protect their idea while they develop, test, and bring it to market.
For transparency: the actual USPTO filing fee for a provisional patent is approximately $200 for small entities. Our $1,500 package covers the complete turnkey process — research, drafting, drawings, and filing. A comparable service from a patent attorney typically runs $5,000 to $7,000.
🚀 Search + Provisional + Product Development — $2,500
The full package: patent protection plus a roadmap to bring your invention to life.
What’s included:
- Everything in the Search + Provisional tier
- Product development roadmap and recommendations
- Material selection and manufacturing method analysis
- Prototype development guidance (3D printing, CNC, injection molding)
- Design for manufacturability (DFM) review
- Cost estimation for initial production runs
Best for: Inventors who want to go from idea to product with one partner handling both the IP protection and the engineering.
Pricing may vary depending on complexity. Contact us for a free consultation.
Why PartSnap?
We’re Engineers, Not Lawyers
We understand your invention because we speak the same language — tolerances, materials, mechanisms, manufacturing processes. When we write your provisional patent, the technical descriptions are accurate because we actually understand the engineering.
We’ve Built Products
PartSnap has helped inventors and companies bring products from concept to production — 3D-printed prototypes, injection-molded parts, CNC-machined components. We know what makes a design manufacturable, and that knowledge strengthens your patent application.
We Save You Thousands
Patent attorneys charge $300-600 per hour. A typical prior art search runs $1,000-2,500. A provisional patent application runs $3,000-5,000. Add filing fees and you’re easily at $5,000-7,000+ before you’ve even filed a non-provisional.
We deliver the same quality of work at a fraction of the cost because our overhead is lower and our process is more efficient.
We’re Honest
If your idea has significant prior art conflicts, we’ll tell you. If it’s not worth filing a provisional, we’ll tell you that too. We’d rather save you $1,000 and earn your trust than take your money for a filing that won’t hold up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a prior art search?
A prior art search examines existing patents, published applications, and public disclosures to determine whether your invention (or something similar) has already been patented. It’s the essential first step before filing any patent application.
What is a provisional patent?
A provisional patent application establishes a filing date (your “priority date”) with the USPTO. It gives you 12 months to develop your invention, find funding, or test the market — all while maintaining your place in line. You can use “Patent Pending” status immediately after filing.
Do I need a patent attorney?
For a provisional patent application, no. The USPTO has minimal format requirements for provisionals. For a full (non-provisional) utility patent, we recommend working with a patent attorney for the formal claims and prosecution — but having a solid provisional and prior art search in hand before you walk into their office will save you thousands in billable hours.
How long does the process take?
- Patent Search: 5-7 business days
- Search + Provisional: 2-3 weeks
- Full Package: 3-4 weeks
What technology areas do you cover?
We specialize in mechanical, electromechanical, and consumer product inventions. This includes tools, hardware, mechanisms, packaging, structural systems, and manufactured goods. We do not currently handle software, pharmaceutical, or biotech patents.
Ready to Protect Your Invention?
Call: (214) 449-1455
Email: Contact Us
Or fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you within one business day.
PartSnap provides patent research and provisional patent preparation services. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. For formal patent prosecution, litigation, or legal opinions, we recommend consulting with a registered patent attorney.