That's probably a $20K to $40K kind of question. Any short musings from a free answer here will not likely be useful. If it's really important to you, economically, find competent patent counsel and see if the value to you is enough for them to consider the project.

I depends on whether the "idea" you wish to use "from the patent" is captured and within the scope of the patent's claims. The claims are numbered sentences at the end of the patent, of course, and you may be able to get some idea on your own, but it may be necessary to... View More

The short answer is that "it's going to cost you to find out." Ecovative has quite a number of patents and pending US applications that may impact your question. No quick answer.

This is not a patent. It is a published patent application that was abandoned a long time ago. If you need a patent search to see if any other patents out there would present a problem, you're gonna have to engage a patent professional. But this patent application would not be a problem.

The required maintenance fees for this patent seem to have been timely paid to date, so it seems that the patent is active. The independent claims, however, are quite detailed (and potentially narrow). Your first step should be to sit down with a patent attorney and have them go over the... View More

Yes, you can. Just let your patent counsel know the details and they should be able to take care of it for you.

To understand what exclusive right is possessed by the patent owner, it is necessary to read the claims of the patent. The patent only provides the exclusive right to practice what is specified in the claims. Claims 1, 21, and 22 in this patent are independent claims. Unless a possible infringer... View More

First, make an invention. One that is novel and nonobvious. Then write some words and draw some pictures providing adequate written description and enablement. Then file at the USPTO office and wait until they send you something back. Then argue with them that the claims really are novel and... View More

Based on what you have stated, it isn't likely that you have a legal right to any compensation. You begin your question by noting that "company employment states whatever is developed while employed belongs to the company...." This aspect of an employment agreement, coupled with... View More

According to the USPTO Public PAIR site, this patent expired in 2011 for failure to pay the first maintenance fee. So, no, the patent is expired.

Check out US Pat No. 8,931,115 (plug in the number at https://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm). Seems relevant.

Certainly you may. Just find a searcher or a patent attorney and pay them to search and provide the list to you. For the same price, they'll probably provide you with copies of the documents also.

You probably should not want to buy an "abandoned" patent. They're not worth much.

The thing to keep in mind is that any application filing, provisional or otherwise, only holds a solid priority date for you if it provides adequate written description and enablement for your invention. So, while truly cosmetic things can be "corrected" without a problem, if new matter... View More

Sounds like the composition of your projectile is what will be relevant. Dimensions would not seem to be the issue. If you're projectile composition is novel and nonobvious, then you may be able to obtain a utility patent. I'd be happy to discuss.

I don't necessarily agree with the design patent route. If you can show, or better if you have research that shows, increased retention with the additional association of the emotion matching the letter of the animal name AND can show that this is novel, you could potentially pursue a utility... View More

A number of U.S. patents relating to this subject matter appear under the name Paul Stamets. Several are relatively newly issued and will be active for some time. One thing to realize is that the patent only provides an exclusive right (right to sue for infringement) for what is within the scope... View More

This patent, like all patents, only provides exclusivity to the owner (or licensees) for what is recited in the "claims." Claims are the numbered sentences at the end of the PDF of the patent document, although they occur near the beginning of the html version of the patent on the USPTO... View More

The phrase in your question " they say includes possible design engineering, patent application, legal work with an attorney, marketing, etc" concerns me. It sounds like a "package" of services most often offered by "invention submission" companies. Some may be... View More

If you are referring to a modification to the AR-15 platform (AR is Armalite Rifle, for the original maker), I am a patent attorney and also a shooting enthusiast with years of experience building and modifying AR type rifles. I'd be happy to talk to you.