If you need free legal assistance with obtaining a US patent, several bar associations have joined with the US Patent Office to help out.  Here is a link to one site that gives the details of who may qualify:http://www.fedcirbar.org/olc/pub/LVFC/cpages/misc/pto.jsp.  Here in Denver, we also have a group of attorneys who have volunteered to help out.  If you are in the Denver area and would like to know more, please let me know and I can get you the details.