What are different available patents in the United States?

You need to file a patent application at the United States Patent and Trademark office near you if you want a patent on a certain product or an invention. It can be difficult for you to get a patent for your product even though the invention might have been an easy success for you.  So, most of the investors opt to hire a patent attorney to help them streamline the entire process.

There are commonly three types of patents available in the Unites States. They are utility patent, plant patent, and design patent. Let’s discuss them in more details.

Utility Patent – The utility patent is normally issued when an individual applies for a specific process and/or product. For example – a new product, matter composition, method of manufacturing, a machine or any improvement of the already existing product or process. This type of patent permits the owner the ability to exclude other individuals from using or creating the invention. However, it should be noted that there is a timeframe on how long this patent is valid. Normally, the time period is 20 years from the original date the owner of an invention filed the patent application.  A utility patent is also called by another name, which is patent for invention.

Design Patent – A design patent covers the novel, ornamental or a new design that is included in or can be applied to a previous article that has been manufactured. Just as a utility patent, it also rules out anyone but the owner from using, selling or making the design. The owner has the right to hold this patent for fourteen years.

Plant Patent – As agriculture is the large part of United States, many endeavors to discover new plant species either by invention or discovery. Whether it is a hybrid or a seedling, a patent for this kind of discovery is called plant patent. Just like other patents, the owner of the invention or discovery is the sole owner. This means no one else can make it or use it for a period of twenty years.

You can get more information from an expert who deals with patent preparation. If you are interested in obtaining a patent, you should also conduct an exhaustive research about the location as many states may have other regulations or requirements. It is crucial that these regulations need to be met before applying and being approved for a patent.  A patent attorney with good experience in patent drafting/preparation would be a great help.

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