If I file a patent application, will I be granted a patent for my invention?	Not necessarily.  The United States Patent Office assigns a patent examiner to determine whether the claims that appear in your patent application describe subject matter that is both novel (new) and non-obvious.  The examiner may also reject the application and/or the claims on several other grounds that are mandated by the United States patent law.  Ultimately, the success of a particular patent application depends on the "scope" of the claims submitted for examination in view of the prior art information available to the examiner at the time the patent application is examined.
How much does it cost to get a patent?	The cost to obtain a patent depends on many factors, including the subject matter of the invention and whether the patent application is initially rejected by the examiner assigned by the United States Patent Office to examine the patent application.  A reliable cost estimate can be prepared only after consultation with an experienced patent attorney.  In general, it can cost anywhere between about $7500 and about $12,500 to obtain an issued US patent, including drawing costs and government filing fees.
How long does it take to obtain a patent?	Once again, the time required to obtain a granted United States patent depends on many factors, including the subject matter of the invention and the workload of the patent examiner assigned by the United States patent office to examine the patent application.  In general, it can take anywhere between about 18 months and about 36 months to obtain an issued United States patent.  In rare instances, it can take more than 5 years to get a United States patent issued.