At Coffield Heedy Kilgore, we help inventors, startups, and established companies secure patent protection for their innovations. Based in Asheville and serving clients across Western North Carolina and beyond, we provide clear legal guidance through the complex patent process — from early strategy to filing and prosecution.
You Have the Idea. Now What?
You have built something new — a product, a system, a process — and you know it has value. Maybe it is a unique manufacturing technique you developed in-house. Maybe it is the backbone of a new startup. Or maybe it is an idea that has been sitting in your workshop, waiting for the right time to launch.
The next step is protecting it. But patent law is technical, detailed, and full of traps for the unwary. One missed deadline or poorly worded claim can limit your rights or cost you protection altogether.
We are here to help you get it right. Whether you are a solo inventor, a local manufacturer, or a growth-stage company with outside investors, we will work with you to develop a patent strategy that fits your goals — and your business model.
What We Help With
Patentability Assessments: Not sure if your idea qualifies for a patent? We will help you evaluate its novelty and potential, and advise on whether a patent application is the right next step.
Provisional and Non-Provisional Filings: We prepare and file both provisional and non-provisional patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), helping you secure your filing date and move toward formal protection.
Office Action Responses and Prosecution: Once your application is filed, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will review it — and often, they will have questions or objections. This back-and-forth process is called patent prosecution, and it is a critical part of getting your patent approved.
We handle prosecution from start to finish. That means responding to Office Actions, negotiating claim language, and communicating directly with examiners to address concerns and strengthen your application. Our goal is to protect the full scope of your invention while moving your application toward approval.
Patent Portfolio Strategy: If your business has multiple innovations or products, we will help you think long-term — managing your portfolio, coordinating filings, and identifying ways to add value through IP.
Why Patent Protection Matters
Safeguard Competitive Advantage: A patent gives you the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling your invention. That can be critical to attracting investors, entering new markets, or maintaining your edge in a crowded field.
Add Value to Your Business: Patents are assets. They can enhance your valuation, open licensing opportunities, and create leverage in negotiations — whether you are fundraising, selling, or expanding.
Who We Work With
Inventors and Engineers: If you are building something in a garage, lab, or local machine shop — we want to talk to you. We enjoy working with creators and technical minds to bring ideas into the legal framework.
Startups and Growth Companies: We help early-stage companies develop patent strategies that support fundraising, product development, and long-term growth. We often work in tandem with our business law team to align IP and corporate goals.
Established Businesses: For companies in manufacturing, tech, energy, and other innovation-heavy industries, we provide long-term patent counsel — helping internal teams protect what they are building while minimizing risk.
Why Work With Coffield Heedy Kilgore?
Registered Patent Attorney: We are one of the only Asheville-based firms with a registered patent attorney on staff. That means we are licensed to practice before the USPTO and can handle filings and prosecution in-house.
Sophisticated Counsel, Local Access: Our clients include inventors in Asheville, entrepreneurs across Western NC, and businesses with national operations. We bring high-level patent strategy to your doorstep — without the overhead of a big city firm.
Strategic, Practical Advice: Patent law is complex — but our job is to make it understandable. We will walk you through your options, explain what to expect, and help you make smart decisions with confidence.
Contact Us to Talk About Your Patent Options and the Path Forward
Ready to protect what you have built? Reach out to our Asheville office to schedule a consultation with a patent attorney. Whether you are just starting to explore your options or need help managing an existing portfolio, we will find clear legal solutions that move your innovation forward.