According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a patent is designed to protect an invention, which is considered property of the inventor. If a patient is granted, it typically protects the invention for 20 years. The patent legally prevents others from making and selling the product for the entire patent term. The patent owner, however, is responsible for enforcing the patent and hiring an attorney, if necessary.

Determine Patent Type

According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, there are three different types of patents: utility, design and plant. A utility patent should be filed when inventing a machine, process or manufacturing invention that is new and useful. A design patent may be granted to individuals who have a new and completely original design. The third type of patent is a plant patent. This patent is reserved for individuals who have developed a completely new variety of plant that has been asexually produced.

File Patent Application

Once you've determined which type of patent is most appropriate, file the patent application electronically. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has an online application. You will need to provide a brief summary about your invention. You will also need to describe your invention and what it accomplishes. Technical information should be included in this section. Once the application has been completed, a patent examiner will review the application. If the examiner has questions about the application, he may send it back for revision. You can check the status on the U.S. Patent and Trademark's website. Once the patent is approved, patent fees will be due. Fees vary depending on the patent type. Generally, a patent will cost $1,000-$3,000.

Appealing a Rejected Patent

Patent applicants are usually frustrated when the government makes an adverse patent decision. Dissatisfied patent applicants have the ability to send a letter of appeal to the Office of Appeals if their application is denied. This letter can be mailed to P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA, 22313. Once a decision has been made on the matter, the board of appeals will send a written decision to the applicant.

Source:

United States Patent and Trademark Office: How to Get a Patent

Business.gov: Patents, Trademarks and Copyright

United States Patent and Trademark Office: Fees