How to Get a Provisional Patent
Provisional patent applications, or PPAs, reserve an invention for a later, more formal patent application. Inventors and businesspeople file PPAs to protect their intellectual property while the product is being finalized or investment partnerships are being coordinated. PPAs are valid for one year from the date of filing and then are discarded without transforming into official patents. If the application is accepted, you will be able to legally write "patent pending" on literature pertaining to the product. A formal patent application, also known as a utility patent application, must be filed within one year to transform the provisional patent into a certified patent.
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Instructions
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Assemble all of the documents, schematics and specifications relating to your invention. Provisional patent applications are submitted much like conventional patent applications, so any information you might include on one you should include on the other. Include directions for assembling or building the product. A working model is not required to submit a provisional patent application, although drawings of a model usually are. Including documents, schematics and drawings of your invention enables your invention; enabling an invention gives the Patent Office enough information to build it, if they desire.
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Decide whether you want to submit your provisional patent application online or through the US Patent and Trademark Office. If you decide to submit the application online, to to the main USPTO website at uspto.gov and follow the online directions. A fee will be charged when you submit the provisional patent application. Fill out the disclosure forms as completely as possible, and make sure that everything included in the online application is true. While provisional patents are easier to obtain than full utility patents, the provisional application must meet still meet certain standards of quality. The online patent application must be submitted in PDF format, per the instructions on the website.
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Bring the assembled documents, schematics, diagrams, and other patent-related material to a patent lawyer if you decide to submit your application directly to the USPTO. The patent lawyer will guide you through the steps you need to successfully submit your application. A Provisional Cover Sheet and a Fee Transmittal Form, both available for download on the USPTO website, must be included with the provisional application. Pay all fees required for the filing of a provisional patent application.
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Tips & Warnings
Overload the provisional patent application to give the application an extra boost.
References
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