Invention Application: Everything You Need to Know
An invention application is a set of papers for inventors to fill out concerning their new process or product. 3 min read
An invention application is a set of papers for inventors to fill out concerning their new process or product. They can fill out the application for the patent through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a small fee. Patents are to preserve creations that solve high-tech problems, whether it's a process or product, by making sure no one else can make and produce a process or product like the one that is patented.
Patent Application
The patent needs to be written in such a very detailed way, since the application is in the form of a legal document. Inventors need to make sure they are as knowledgeable and being as accurate as possible when they are filling out the patent application. The paperwork requires details to be written out or drawn, such as your invention explained through drawings and specifications about the technical parts of the patent. If this is your first time filling out a utility patent application, it is not recommended to do so without a patent agent or attorney there for assistance.
The inventor is the only one that can apply for the patent, although, if there are several people who created an invention, they all need to be listed on the applications for the patent.
Steps for Filling Out an Application for a Patent
Here are the steps for filling out a patent application:
1. Have documentation of your invention. Use a notebook to write down all the steps of your invention. Draw and write out all the parts of your invention and don't forget to include where your plan came from in the first place. Keep in mind that you might want to put together and test out a preliminary model. Write out all attempts. Don't forget to date and sign all the entries along with two dependable witnesses.
2. Your invention must be entitled to a patent protection. A patent cannot be given if it's based only on a vision. Your invention has to be new, and you have to explain how it works. It has to be different from past inventions in a clear way. Others cannot be aware of the invention, and it cannot be made for sale prior to applying for a patent.
3. You must evaluate how profitable your invention will be. Remember that getting the patent is a decision based on your occupation. A patent costs about $1,500 from the USPTO and this is without fees from a patent lawyer that can help you apply for a patent. Do plenty of investigating on the type of patent you want to make sure it will be worth the cost of all the fees.
4. Do an extensive search on the type of patent you want to get. Have a draft of the paperwork on your patent and look up art previously done on this patent before sending an application in for a patent agent to look over. You will need to search through national and international patents, in addition to looking over technical and scientific publications that might contain similar inventions.
Looking for an already existing patent can take up a lot of time, but this skill can be achieved with practice. You may employ an expert later on down the line, but at this point you will know more about your invention than an expert.
There are many ways to look up information about your patent. You can go to a Patent and Trademark Depository Library, which is where you will be able to get assistance from a librarian, or do a search on the internet. With some research, you will discover that there are inventions that resemble to yours. When you apply for your patent, make sure to include how the invention differs from earlier ones or how yours can make these earlier inventions better.
5. File and prepare an application in the company of the USPTO. You can file a provisional patent application (PPA) or a regular patent application (RPA) once you are ready to file with the USPTO. The provisional patent application (PPA) is not the real paperwork on the invention. Its a preliminary step to filing a patent application.
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