Provisional Patents: before filing

[Spaceball1]

I wasn't sure how to proceed with a provisional patent, so I downloaded some software to help - http://www.patentwizard.com/ - it was $250, but since my muse is a new product, I want to be sure my provisional patent is well written before I shop it around to licensees (or try to manufacture myself).

A provisional patent needs to include everything a normal patent does EXCEPT the "Claims" section, where you have to confirm that your product is in fact, unique, in some way.

So - detailed product descriptions plus drawings/schematics must be included in the provisional patent.

My question - since I'm not an artist/designer how do I create accurate drawings (from multiple angles - and cutaways) for the provisional patent? If I hire someone (on elance.com, for exampe) to do the drawings, how do I protect the idea? My thought is a confidentiality agreement. Does anyone else have a suggestion?

Thanks in advance.

[madhum190]

why not to ask them that?

"I will like to know what protection do you offer while you are drawing me idea"


also, if you spent 250 in software, consulting a lawyer with that question ( maybe legalzoom.com) will cost you about a 100 if you want peace of mind.

you can always draft a non disclosure agreement with the drawing people so you make your own "napkin" sketches, you made them sign your sketches, with date and names, licenses, wahtever, you keep an email trail, and a journal ( those happen to be important in court) so if they pull a wise one you can make money in the court.

( sorry for the weird english, i was writting fast)