Two tests-
1) Is your idea so great that not only you'll be making money with it, but someone else would want to knock it off so they could make money with it? If not, don't patent.
2) Are you prepared to seek funding for, develop, test, prototype, produce, and market it with full gusto? If not, don't patent it until you are. You lose control of the clock as soon as you start the process, so you better be ready to ride the wave.
Comments
Two tests- 1) Is your idea so great that not only you'll be making money with it, but someone else would want to knock it off so they could make money with it? If not, don't patent.
2) Are you prepared to seek funding for, develop, test, prototype, produce, and market it with full gusto? If not, don't patent it until you are. You lose control of the clock as soon as you start the process, so you better be ready to ride the wave.