Perhaps relating some of my experiences willd help you inventors. My High School Art instructor advised me not to eat, nor sleep, nor be otherwise distracted from completing works. Most projects have taken me a year to develop, and another year to market. I have found that a patent is often reason to delay production, as folks are fearfull of being copied. A patent will not stop this kind of intellectual property theft however, and, may even be obtained after you begin production.
Patent law is the ONLY specialized branch of law.
A patent may be 'assigned' to anyone, and often is paid for and assigned to the distributor. Check with your potential major customers to see if they might be willing to do something like this for you. It is better to manufacture an unpatented gizzmo than to let lack of a patent halt you in your tracks. For the broke amoung you, look to family and friends for needed financing. Banks are reluctant to loan unless they see a sure return of their money.