Patents for Inventors – Your Questions Answered

Are you confused about what a patent and if you know one? This is a fund for beginning inventors that answers your questions most frequently asked questions.

1) What is a patent?

A patent is a form of “intellectual property” which rewards those who invent new and not obvious

a) the methods or procedures;
b) machinery;
c) Articles manufactured or
d) the composition of matter.

understand in light of the disclosure of the invention in full, as the invention, the monopoly of the practice “legal” to the invention, the inventor (s) for a period of time has been Granted.

The legal monopoly to exclude the right of the inventor (s) to other persons and companies from:

-do);
b) use;
c) sell or offer for sale or
d) imports;
the invention of the United States.

2) What is “patent” in the meantime?

Once a patent application prepared and filed and before the grant of a patent may be declared the invention of the word “patent” or “patent”.

Although these have no legal meaning, and give the inventor (s) is not a legal claim, the name tends to hold for other persons or companies from copying the invention, a patent for the invention on its legal monopoly Inventor (s).

3) There are several types of patents?

There are two types of patents, which are generally of interest to inventors, design and utility.

A patent protects the design aesthetic “or” look “of the invention, is a legal monopoly on much more limited as a service, and to protect the” function “of the invention.

Therefore, a more desirable designs of utility, where possible, the invention may be protected by two patents of invention and development.

4) How long do patents provide legal protection for the inventor?

The period in which the legal monopoly granted for a utility model is 20 years from the date of application for a utility, but not legal rights has only begun patent issues.

The time period during which the legal monopoly is granted for a design patent is 14 years from the date of issue.

5) What is the “repair”?

Utility requires the payment of charges 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years after the issue of maintaining patents in force. Drawings requiring no maintenance to maintain the patent in vertical force.

6) I have my secret invention?

The inventor (s) to work for their invention secret until the patent attorney or patent agent registered Council has sought to hold responsible.

This is because many foreign countries where the inventor (s) decide whether to seek patent protection may be new to “absolute obligation.

This means that if the invention “made public” (ie persons not disclosed for confidentiality) before the “effective filing date” in this country, the validity of a patent, which was perhaps the invention in this country can not on be challenged by being.

7) What is the ‘international agreement, “or” Paris Convention “?

Many countries are members of the International Treaty “and” Paris Convention “.

These countries allow the inventor (s) “require a foreign priority, provided according to the time of filing the first patent application in a third country, provided that an application for patent is filed in a third country within one year where the first patent application was submitted (within 6 months for design patent applications).

The United States is a member of the International Convention on the basis of priority to such foreign patent application to write.

Are there deadlines for submitting a patent application with the U. S. Patent Office?

The inventor (s) an application for patent in the United States within a file year (if the patent protection is desired in the U.S.) the first:

a) make an offer to sell the invention (even if the offer is not accepted and sometimes even if the invention has not created or not present);
b) use the invention to the public (eg through the use of the invention, at work or in public on a corner), or
c) or put the invention in a printed publication that is distributed (for example, a promotional brochure, catalog or Web site).

They are called “statutory bars” years and the deadline passed without the filing of patent application in the United States, the inventor (s) are not allowed, a patent application in the United States needed.

Priority abroad (see above) or the priority of a provisional patent application (see below) before the expiry of one year are used, if applicable.

9) What is a provisional patent application?

The provisional patent application in the United States, that (description disclosure) of the invention appears to be made, but that does not requirements of an application for utility model.

The priority is for a utility patent application (not a design patent) and patent applications in foreign countries that are members of the International Convention if filed within one year from the date of filing the provisional patent application claim.

Ultimately, in a timely manner for consultation with qualified patent attorney or patent agent “to discuss the details of protecting your invention!