Patent Pending in 24 Hours

by Stim, Richard

• ISBN13: 9781413310726
• ISBN10: 1413310729
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-12-07
• Publisher: NOLO

Summary

Take the first step to protecting your invention! Ready to stamp "patent pending" on your invention? Then you need to file a provisional patent application (PPA), an inexpensive way to claim your hard work. With a PPA, you'll have time to figure out whether you can make a profit from your creation before you invest more time and money. The 5th edition contains revised and updated patent searching information as well as updated case law and patent regulations, plus additional resources.

Author Biography

Richard Stim is an intellectual property attorney and the author of many Nolo books, including Profit From Your Idea and Music Law. Visit his popular blog at www.patentcopyrighttrademarkblog.com. David Pressman has over 40 years of experience in the patent profession and is the author of Patent It Yourself, the world's bestselling patent book.

Table of Contents

The Provisional Patent Application
How a Provisional Patent Application Works	p. 3
Advantages of Filing a Provisional Patent Application	p. 6
Potential Disadvantages of Filing a Provisional Application	p. 14
Preparing Your Provisional Patent Application	p. 16
Drinking Beer and Listening to the Car Radio: Two Provisional Patent Applications	p. 16
Deciding Whether to File a Provisional Application: The Seven Hurdles
Hurdle #1	p. 29
Hurdle #2	p. 35
Hurdle #3	p. 38
Hurdle #4	p. 40
Hurdle #5	p. 41
Hurdle #6	p. 43
Hurdle #7	p. 44
Ourlnventer's Patent Hurdles	p. 46
Finding Previous Inventions
Internet Patent-Searching Tips	p. 50
Searching the USPTO Website	p. 57
How to Read a Patent	p. 66
Finding Prior Art That Isn't Currently Patented	p. 72
After the Preliminary Search	p. 75
Drafting the Provisional Patent Application: Part 1-Drawing Your Invention
Basic Patent Drafting Principles	p. 84
Getting Started	p. 87
Tips for Inventors Who Have a Prototype but Can't Draw	p. 89
Tips for Inventors Who Don't Have a Prototype and Can't Draw	p. 95
Drawings for Software, Business Methods, Electrical Inventions, and Chemical Compounds	p. 97
Drafting the Provisional Patent Application: Part 2-Describing Your invention
What Do You Call Your Invention?	p. 107
What Are the Names and Addresses of the inventors?	p. 108
What Are the Advantages of Your Invention Over the Prior Art?	p. 109
What Drawing Figures Have You Included?	p. 110
What Are the Components of Your Invention and How Do They Interact?	p. 111
How Does the Invention Achieve Its Result?	p. 115
What Are Alternative Ways That Your Invention Can Achieve Its Result?	p. 116
Putting It All Together	p. 117
Filing and Beyond
How to File Your Provisional Patent Application	p. 126
Filing a Regular Patent Application	p. 139
Marking Your Invention ôPatentPendingö	p. 141
What Happens If You Modify Your Invention?	p. 141
International Rules to Remember	p. 142
Appendixes
Provisional Patent Applications
Pasteurization	p. 149
The Telephone	p. 154
Car Radio	p. 167
Fly Mask	p. 174
Convertible Tent	p. 178
Non-Fogging Shower Mirror	p. 188
Three-Wheeled Scooter	p. 203
Musical Condom	p. 221
Fashion Business Method	p. 229
Watch with Speed Adjustment During Travel for Reducing Jet Lag (Mitchell Electrical Patent)	p. 250
Pre-Monopoly BoardGame	p. 267
Advertising System for Airport	p. 276
Mashed Potato Machine	p. 2891
Method of Viewing Panoramic Images	p. 300
Puppet Construction Kit	p. 317
Ergonomic Mousey	p. 335
Talking Stick Horse	p. 347
Agreements
Nondisclosure Agreement	p. 364
Joint Ownership Agreement for Inventors	p. 370
Agreement for Creation of Prototype or Patent Drawings	p. 376
Invention Assignment	p. 379
Glossaries
Glossary of Useful Technical Terms	p. 382
Glossary of Patent Terms	p. 396
The Inventor's Notebook
Attorneys
Finding an Attorney	p. 416
Keeping Fees Down	p. 417
Resources
Inventor Resources	p. 420
Internet Patent-Searching Resources	p. 421
Assessing Foreign Patent Potential	p. 422
Patent and Trademark Depository libraries	p. 423
Index
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