A few years ago, I came up with an idea involving cutting a ferro rod and drilling a hole to make a toggle closure for a bracelet that would also contain a scraping device, paracord and tinder (I posted it here in 2011 http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/fo...st.php?p=28216). Here's the 2011 prototype:
I'm proud to say that I've successfully reached the end of a long and difficult process to obtain a patent from the USPTO.
This proves to me that a little guy can protect his invention from companies who would use their status and money to steal and profit from it - without credit or even a nod!