Of course, what’s worse than a weak start is simply not starting at all. Moreover, if you’ve publicly disclosed your invention, then you have only a one-year grace period to apply for a patent. You forfeit your patent rights if you fail to file within the 1-year grace period. http://www.patenttrademarkblog.com/first-to-file-patent-rule...

In the EU.. you destroy immediately.. there is no grace period.