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Entrepreneurs come up with profitable product ideas every day and need patents to protect them. They learn how to invent something, create profitable products and then try to secure them through patenting. However, financial issues often prevent entrepreneurs from obtaining patents for their inventions. Such entrepreneurs learn how to file provisional patents on thir own instead. As an entrepreneur with limited funding, you can succeed in securing your property with this type of patent. Continue reading to learn how to file provisional patent application yourself.
Understand The Restrictions
To begin learning how to file provisional patent application on your own, understand the restrictions. These patents cannot replace nonprovisional patents. Provisional patents expire one year from when they are established. When entrepreneurs do not apply for a nonprovisional patent within that year, they risk losing their valuable property. In addition to this loss, entrepreneurs also lose their early filing date opportunity. If you submit your application for a provisional patent, you gain an earlier filing date advantage. Wait too long to apply for your nonprovisional patent and you lose that advantage. Keep the time limitations in mind when filing for a provisional patent application yourself.
Write A Short Pitch
After you gain the necessary knowledge regarding provisional patent limitations, write a short pitch. Keep this section to just a couple of paragraphs. Focus on the main points of your invention when creating this portion of your patent to keep your content short. Describe the structure of your product. Explain the mechanical elements that go into manufacturing the item. Include any relevant technological features that should be addressed. If you have trouble condensing all of these points into 1-2 paragraphs, resort to templates provided online. You can also turn to business podcasts that focus on the subject to gain more knowledge. Use them to better outline your pitch and file your provisional patent quickly.
Choose Online Or Mail Filing
Another crucial step to understanding how to file provisional patent applications yourself is deciding between online or mail filing. Today’s society functions primarily online. Many business owners conduct business via the Internet and government professionals do as well. Thus, online filing has popularized. To file a provisional patent application online, visit the USPTO website. Then, follow the appropriate links until you get to the provisional patent form. You can complete the entire transaction on your computer. However, some entrepreneurs prefer to apply for patents via the mail. To do so, you still have to visit the USPTO site. Print out the “Provisional Cover Sheet” along with the “Fee Transmittal” document. Fill them out carefully. Then, attach them to a return postcard and mail them out. Whichever option you choose, you will be one step closer to obtaining a provisional patent.
Include A Cover Sheet
Also, entrepreneurs learning how to file provisional patent applications need to include cover sheets. Your cover sheet should include your application document for the patent. List your name and any other inventors’ names that participated in creating your product. If you came up with a new medical device product, you may have needed some outside assistance from other qualified professionals. Provide the addresses of each inventor along with the title of the invention you wish to secure. If a U.S. government agency has expressed interest in your provisional patent application, document the agency name too. You can find the cover sheet form on the USPTO website. Fill it out correctly to acquire a provisional patent.
Pay The Associated Fees
In addition to the above steps, you need to pay the associated fees in order to get a provisional patent. Since you plan to apply for a provisional patent on your own, you do not have to spend money to hire a patent lawyer. Thus, you can save up for these fees more easily. The government does not consider provisional patent applications until the associated filing fees have been paid. Hence, providing the payment promptly plays a major role in protecting your invention idea. Professionals advise entrepreneurs to pay online using a credit card. If you choose to pay in this way, print out a receipt for proof of payment. Then, wait a few weeks to hear back from the Patent Office. Payment is the final step to filing provisional patent applications.
Entrepreneurs secure their inventions by learning how to file provisional patent applications on their own. To begin doing so, understand the time restraints associated with provisional patents. Then, write a 1-2 paragraph pitch explaining your product. Choose to apply either online or through the mail to officially begin the process. Fill out a cover sheet to supply all necessary information. Lastly, pay the application fees in order to validate your application. Follow these step to learn how to file provisional patent applications.
