Use an invention disclosure to start the protection process by establishing your date of original conception. Here's what's required:
Title of the invention. It must be descriptive, not a trademark name.
Background of the invenion. In a paragraph or two describe products that are currently in use.
Summary of the inventoin. This should include a description from two different perspectives so there is no misunderstanding.
Detailed Description of the invention. This takes time. You need to thoroughly describe your invention and how it works.
Drawings. Drawings should be compiled in the proper sequence and referenced in the written description. The components and elements should be referenced by numbers.
Validate the content and the date. Have a trusted person who is not in a position to profit from your invention sign it, or have it notarized. It is not legally binding to mail it to yourself.
To have the broadest possible patent scope, make sure you include all of the inventive subject matter, not just the physical invention itself. If you're unsure, read about the various forms of inventive subject matter in FROM PATENT TO PROFIT or PATENT WRITER (to be released summer 2005). The SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL also includes details for writing a disclosure and outlines the various types of drawings that are used in patenting.