If you believe that your invention may be protectable, then you should prepare a disclosure of the invention in written form. Your disclosure should indicate what your invention is, how it works, how it can be used, and how it is an improvement over known articles or methods. Preferably, your disclosure information should include one or more drawings of your invention, and your written description should also make reference to your drawings as appropriate.

Your disclosure should be signed and dated by you and witnessed by at least two individuals who are not coinventors.

It is also recommended that you maintain a diary or laboratory notebook to keep track of the dates when you initially conceived your invention and the steps taken to reduce it to practice.