You have a very simplistic approach to your invention. I would suggest that you have a professional patent searcher complete an invention search before you proceed with anything. This will allow you to write a provisional disclosure with some certainty and in the future avoid a 102(b) rejection based on prior art or an obvious rejection based on a combination of ideas. Many people believe that they have the best widget until they do a prior art search or until they receive a rejection at the patent office that they can't overcome; whereas, if they had done the search they would have realized that someone may have tried that before.

You also may find that the original inventor has made the improvement that you have as well.

Good luck!

Generally, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) filing fee for a small entity Provisional Application for Patent (PAP) is $110. It is important to note that a PAP will never become a patent, is automatically abandoned by the USPTO after 12 months, will not be searched or examined by the USPTO. Also, once a non-provisional patent application is filed corresponding to the PAP, any material which was not included in the original PAP will not be entitled to the earlier filing date.

You should consult an experienced Patent Attorney to draft and file your Provisional Application for Patent. Feel contact my office for additional details.

COMMENTS MADE HEREIN ARE NEITHER LEGAL OPINION NOR DO THEY ESTABLISH AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.