Steps to Filing a Patent
|
ContactHome |240Z Mechanics| |Patents| |Art| |Recipes| |
BioPatent Communications Contact Me for Discussions About Arts, Technology, and Culture (Blog Me/Pod Me). |
BioPatent Communications
Patent Protection
by Gary L. Baker, Patent Attorney
STEPS TO OBTAINING PATENTS*
I. Drafting a Patent
a. Search
journals internet,
US patents,
International published patents etc. to find the closest similar inventions and
suggest probably scope of
novelty.
b. Draft claims (a unique skill of patent professionals) tailored to be as big as
possible without claiming old art.
c. Draft
application to support claims (you can only claim what is disclosed in the application).
d. Prepare any
Figures< necessary to the understanding of the claims (near mandatory for system, device, and
mechanical claims).
II. Provisional Patent
a. Not searched or examined by the Patent Office.
b. Low
filing fee.
c. 12 months to file formal application(s).
III. U.S. Utility Patent
a. Must be filed within 1 year of the Provisional filing date, or can be filed instead
of a Provisional application.
b.
Utility applications include: Inventors list, Summary of the Invention, Figures, Detailed
Description, Claims.
c. Other documents filed: Transmittal, Assignments, Declarations of Inventors, Fee
Transmittal.
d. Application text must support the claims.
e. Figures necessary to understand the claims.
f. Claims filed will be searched and examined.
g. Prosecution of the application: Office Actions, Applicant Response, Appeals.
h. Application is published 18 months from first filing date.
i. Issue of a Patent: Fees, Maintenance.
IV. Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT - foreign filing) Application
a. File
PCT
application within 1 year of the Provisional filing date.
b. File with or instead of the U.S. Utility application.
c. Application can include same text as U.S. application; PCT Request forms, Figures.
d. Demand for early prosecution and preliminary examination can be made.
e. International Search Report (IPR) identifies relevant prior art references.
f. Application is published 18 months from first filing date.
g. Applicant must choose for National Phase countries prosecution about
30 months from first filing date.
V. National Phase Applications
a. Filing in Patent Offices of selected countries.
b. Necessary translations.
c. Filing fees for each selected country.
d. Hire licensed patent prosecution professional in each country.
* This Web Page is intended for general education. This page can not be considered legal advice. Please contact your Patent Professiona before attempting to file or prosecute a patent.