Have a fund raiser! (Score 1)

If you are really serious about being open with it then I would consider asking for the funding to file the patent. Keep the patent for yourself and just publish it on the web with terms such as Creative Commons.

The funding could come from private donations. A dollar here, a dollar there type of thing. Post a donation link to somewhere like Slashdot with a suitable teaser (or teasers if you want to attract a larger audience - multiple teasers targeting different demographics will only increase the size of the donation pool).

A few possible teasers for Slashdot...for the young crowd you could talk about how your invention would enable every individual to pour hot grits down Natalie's front. The middle age may enjoy something about the .cx domain. The old ones (see my Slashdot ID number) would be into something nostalgic - old hardware like Z80s for instance.

Another good things about the public fundraising - Documentation to help with any prior art disputes...