How to Patent a Kid's Invention
Patents on inventions are administered by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. An inventor can be granted a patent by the U.S. government "to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States" (see References: "Patent Information"). Patents are designed to protect inventors from other people taking ideas as their own and profiting from these efforts. Filing for patents is a complex process, and children should be guided by an adult to ensure that their inventions are protected.
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Instructions
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Preparation
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1
Assist the child in completing the Provisional Application for Patent Cover Sheet (see Resources).
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2
Read and discuss the requirements of the U.S. Code Title 35, Section 112 (see Resources). Prepare an invention description that meets these requirements.
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3
Read and discuss the requirements of the U.S. Code Title 35, Section 113 (see Resources). If needed, create drawings needed to understand the invention that meets these requirements.
Application
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4
Register the child as an eFILER with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (see Resources).
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5
Assist the child in completing the application information, including name, address and phone number.
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6
Upload the necessary documents, including the Patent Cover Sheet, description and drawings.
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7
Submit the application to the eFILER website. Pay the necessary fees, and print and/or save the acknowledgment receipt.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Uploaded documents must be PDF or TXT files.
Once a patent is granted, maintenance fees must be paid after four, eight, and 12 years.
Make sure to use the child's name on the patent application. The name cannot be changed if a patent is granted and becomes the property of the name associated with the patent.
