As a rule of thumb, Patent office does not grant patents for "mere ideas or suggestions." Idea patent must produce an actual, workable invention. The rules in idea patent also stipulate that the patent be explicit enough such that anyone "ordinarily skilled in the art" can apply what they learn in the patent to make the invention and make it work successfully. Idea patent is only possible if the idea is used to invent or discover any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement to an already patented invention. Practically any idea patent turned to invention made by humans is patentable. Idea patent one must have an invention, not upon merely the idea or suggestion of a new invention.

An idea patent is a grant issued by the Patent and Trademark Office giving inventors the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling their invention in the United States. An idea patent does not grant inventors the right to make, use, sell, or import their inventions - only to exclude others from doing so.

An idea patent must first be produced through an invention. And the invention that comes out due to the idea patent must be considered new. Idea patent for new inventions can be done unless any of the following applied before it was invented:

• It was known or used by others in the U.S.
• It was patented in the U.S. or foreign country
• It was described in a printed publication in the U.S. or foreign country
  

An idea patent on new invention can be approved unless any of the following apply more than one year prior to the date of a patent application:

• It was patented in the U.S. or foreign country
• It was described in a printed publication in the U.S. or foreign country
• It was in public use or on sale in the U.S.

Also idea patent on inventions must also be considered useful. This means that it must perform a function and do what it is intended to do. Furthermore, idea patent on invention must give new and non-obvious results compared to known approaches. For example, substituting one material for another in an invention or changing its size is ordinarily not grounds for patentability. Idea patent is a complex process. And it is best conducted under careful watch of a legal counsel.