PY, i just went through this about 2 months ago.
I had a great idea and drew up pictures of how I felt it should be made. Sent the pictures plus a written description of it and how it would be used to a person to do search and he wrote back that the item was NOT patentable.
I could sstill maufacture it if I wanted to but he suggested agaisnt it.
If I manufactre it and someone else does so too and undercuts what I am charging I can get stuck with thousands of peices and be out major bucks.
Speak to someone who is knowledgeable. There is a radio show on the internet . I think its on Thursday nights called ”Got Invention”. The host is a Jewish fella named Fried.
Check it out and best of luck.