You might even make some money, if you could get the exclusive right to produce or to license your invention. In other words, you need a patent. Thousands of inventors have successfully navigated the patent system on their own. In fact, federal law requires patent examiners to help individual inventors who apply for patents without a lawyer's help. To obtain a patent, you need to be able to describe all aspects of your invention, and you need to make sure your invention qualifies for a patent.
Some steps are easy, others are more difficult.
As with all new endeavors, you will succeed by trial and error. But by taking the process one step at a time, you can acquire a patent. Here's a quick look at the basic steps you need to take before filing a patent application. You'll see that nothing about the process requires a lawyer. Keep a careful record of your invention.