How would a guy go about finding a company to manufacture and patent a new product?

Carefully. A lot of new products get stolen. Patent your product before approaching anyone to manufacture it. Patent anything that would be similar too, that you can.

My friend Don Greider had 116 patents, most in solar.

Keith

Patents are not worth what most think they are, especially if there are other products that have been patented that are similar to yours already in effect. Also they are not forever, they have a recurring cost, set upon them depending on the product.

You should if you really wish to learn about patents make an appointment with a Patent lawyer, it could save you a lot of time and energy and money in the long wrong if you do get a patent and are challenged on it or you challenge someone on yours.

Patents can be given and still be others out there to steal your idea with a minimum of changes to the original idea, happens all the time, and you will have to prove why it threatens your patent, this is especially true if your product is a money making idea or the other way a saver of funding, which either way can be money making to the holder.

It really comes down to the decision, is your idea worth going the route of a patent for the cost, they are not cheap, or can you live with having the product made and receive the funds made from it, and still have it copied, happens more than people realize.

Patents have great protection if the owner has the funding to protect it, it's up to the owner to challenge the other trying to do so on a copy of your product, in most applications for a patent change there only needs to be four changes made to the patent in place !

Patents are expensive; first is gathering all the paperwork together, the patent attorney, the patent search to establish the product is indeed patentable, the prototyping and proof of concept. The actual cost of applying and patent approval and if granted a patent there is s the ongoing cost of protecting the patent from infringement or it is lost.

There are also other considerations if you are employed while creating and/or developing the idea.

As an independent innovator there are companies that can help you through the process and connect you with potential companies which may wish to buy the rights to your idea if it has worth, for fees. Be aware there is a limited amount of time from the time you show your idea to anyone and the securing of the actual patent registry.

Patents are great, but don't mean squat to the Chinks. They have no honor.

Like stated patents can have sizeable costs in hiring a patent attorney and going thru all the steps. Not sure if the manufacturer and patents can be done together.

You would need to have the product or prototype researched to see if others exist, and if so, are they similar or different enough to get a patent.
I looked into it a couple of times. You have one years once a product is marketed to get your patent. If not it is available to another to copy and sell it as their own.

The patent I looked into would be very expensive on what I would likely make in 5 years selling it. My cousin was a patent attorney so I got some good advice.

A friend got two patents, they are a lot of money but it protected his products, (mostly). One was copied up to the patent part which left the end product lacking in performance.(my opinion) I don't think he could of found someone to build his products to his specs. and price point.

Good Luck