Rather than attempt to patent and commercialize in the USA (as the first step) you may wish to consider patenting in the UK as the costs are lower and a world-wide search is included in the price (around US$150 at last check).

 Another option is, for all of you hesitant to pay out to some 'Invention Marketing' firm (we all know of the late night TV rip-off companies running this scam), check out the company begun by a fellow inventor who struck it big and is now aiding others at - http://www.trevorbaylisbrands.com/tbb/svcs/intro.asp

 Trevor invented the hand crank-up radio in his garden shed for all those people in 'developing countries' where batteries are not so available. It also includes a light but the really big advantage was in allowing people in remote regions to listen to educational/news programs over shortwave. Assembly of the radios was outsourced to disabled people in South Africa.

So informative! On the process that has been an total enigma  to me so far, thank you for offering these learning tools so I can step up to the next level with my patents!