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Self-Filing Information - Provisional Patent Application
(Self-filing without an attorney screening, at
minimum, is not recommended.)
General
- Filed with the USPTO (United States Patent and
Trademark Office)
- USPTO is located in Alexandria, Virginia, but
. . .
- USPTO conducts business in writing
- No reason to go there - no advantage in
personal appearances
- Documents sent Express Mail are considered
filed on the mailing date if Express Mail label number is placed on the cover
sheet
Individuals - USPTO filing fee:
- $105 for individuals (small entity discounted
rate)
- Checks and money orders accepted by USPTO
- Additional fee required if application,
including drawings, exceeds 100 pages
- (Business entities should check small-entity
requirements)
Which forms:
- Cover sheet is required
- Additional form required for credit card
payment
- Filing fee Transmittal form should not be used
for provisionals
- No non-publication request used
Finding on-line forms:
- Suggestion - read this description first
and/or bookmark this page
- USPTO on-line forms require Adobe Reader
- Adobe Reader can be downloaded from USPTO
website
- The link below takes you to a page on the
USPTO website
- Select "Patent" on left side of page near top
under "Forms"
- Link takes you to a three-column list of
patent forms
- List - links for on-line fillable forms in
center column
- List – links for print-only forms in left
column
- List – descriptions of forms in right column
- Cover sheet is form SB16 "Provisional
Application for Cover Sheet"
- Link to USPTO form-list entry –
www.uspto.gov/web/forms/index.html
Provisional Cover Sheet
- Provides the mailing address
- Provides additional form number (form
PTO-2038) for payment by credit card
- Provides information on the fees
- Requires mailing address – required for USPTO
confirmation
USPTO Confirmation
- Confirmation mailed to address provided
- Provides filing date and provisional number
assigned
- Do not misplace the confirmation – information
will be needed if and when you upgrade to non-provisional
fyi - USPTO mailing address
- Commissioner for Patents
- P.O. Box 1450
- Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
fyi – USPTO website
- The ultimate source of information on patent
applications
- USPTO home page at
www.uspto.gov
Caution: Provisional
patent applications are not the solution for every situation. Serious examination of
About Provisional Patent
Applications is recommended.
Provisional
templates
other topics -
provisional service
programs,
patent search,
do-it-yourself patent search,
patent it or not
more topics -
patent ready,
patent or trade
secret it, FAQS
questions, inquiries
-
contact the firm
(all modes)
or call 312.419-8055
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