How important is an inventor norebook?

[McMartin]

Hi.

I have been noodling this idea for months/years.  Form initial vague identification of a need, to casual research for competitors and related products already filling the niche, to initial prototyping.  I have been toying with the design crux in my head for a long time.   (Basically, I work out the design in my head while I exercise, and sometimes scribble out a design or notes, it is mostly in my head)

Only now am I serious about making a run at this and start seriously prototyping to work out the bugs.   But I already have a stack of dog-eared papers a couple inches tall and have evolved the design substantially.  It still might change quite a bit more though, since I see several design elements that will be tweaked as I work with it.  The core innovation has been pretty stable throughout, what changes mainly is the details that make it functional and marketable.

What should I do about a notebook now?

Thanks.

[Brad]

Since the US Patent System changed to a "first to file" instead of a "first to invent" system a few years ago, the legal/patent value of a notebook has diminished.  However, I think from a practical and logistical reason it is good to keep all of your notes and files organized in a way that makes sense for you.

In other words, in the past you may have to use an inventors notebook to try and prove you created an invention before another person but that is no longer the case:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_to_file_and_first_to_invent

[McMartin]

Thanks.

I keep pretty good notes.  Just not numbered and witnessed...