Are there any alternatives to making a working model?
Yes, there is. In fact the Patent Office does not require the filing of a model, but only a wriiten description, sufficient enought to teach someone who is already familiar with the area involved to use the invention. If someone does not reduce the idea to prace by making a working model, they may simply file the descripition. This is called a constructive reduction to practice and can be used in place of an actual reduction to practce.
