Design Patent Applications (U.S.)

Kevin Prince Registered Patent Agent Turn off video auto-start for entire site. Hard-Copy Order Form   Sample Design Patent

Design patents protect the ornamental appearance of an invention, and only afford minimal protection as a result. On the other hand, they are less expensive and still allow you to legally claim "patent pending" while the application is pending at the US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO). Here is a more complete comparison with utility patents. Be sure you understand the ramifications of filing a design patent if you're just trying to save money... you may be advised to file a provisional patent application and then follow-up a year later with a utility patent. We can help you make that decision... please ask if you are at all unsure. Benefits and Drawbacks of Design Patents Benefits Drawbacks Inexpensive (compared to Utility Patents) Protects "ornamental appearance" only, not "how it works" or utility aspects Allows you to legally indicated "patent pending" after filed Only 14 year duration instead of 17-20 years with utility patent Good for protecting items with ornamental or aesthetic appeal (i.e.., hubcaps, car designs, etc.) Does not protect "how" the invention works Filing fees less expensive than utility patent ($230 vs. $462) Drawings more expensive ($125/sheet vs. $100) because they're more detailed More likely to be granted than utility patents (~95% vs ~40%)   All Design Patent Applications include: Cover Sheet and Title Of Invention Brief Description of the Drawings (see drawings typically required with design patents) 1 Claim (design patents only ever have one claim) Up to Three Drawing Sheets (add'l at $125 per sheet) Note: Design Patents revolve around the very detailed, complex drawings that are required. As such, these drawing sheets are typically billed at $125 per sheet as opposed to $100 for utility patents. Please see the patent drawing pages for further information and examples. We need very detailed sketches or photos of a prototype, from all angles (front, back, left side, right side, top, bottom, and one perspective view--see design patent example for all of the views that are required). We can't do the patent drawings without these views, so these photos or sketches, or an actual product sample, are required before we can begin work. To get started, complete the form below. Alternately, you may fax or mail this hard-copy order form with sketches, prior art, payment, and any other necessary information. Please tell us about yourself: * First Name:  * Last Name: Company or Firm: * Residential Address:   City: State: Zip: Phone Numbers: * Daytime: Extension: Fax: Cellular: Home: Other: * Email: US Citizen?: Yes No... (if not, indicate citizenship: ) Number of Inventors: (please email us with above info for each add'l inventor) Please tell us about this particular invention: Note: Please email or fax us additional details, sketches, etc. as necessary. For a signed Non-disclosure agreement,visit our NDA page before completing this form. Invention Title: * General Description of the Invention: Drawings, sketches, photos, prototypes: will be emailed will be mailed will be mailed with prototype will be faxed sent previously please return all items sent (Remember, we need all 7 views as in the example design patent.) Special Circumstances: I plan on filing foreign patents Prior related patents apply Government assistance was used (grant money, etc.) * Communication: The secrecy of your invention and the details of your patent are important to us. While we prefer to communicate with you via email for ease and speed, we are also aware that many clients prefer to communicate by other, possibly more secure but more expensive means. As such, please let us know the way you would prefer that we communicate with you, send you drafts of your claims and specification, and so forth. (Note that if you check anything other than 'email' below, you really should print our hard-copy form and either fax or overnight it to us, instead of submitting an on-line form like this one!) Email Fax FedEx or UPS Overnight * Total Amount Due: Service Speed RUSH 1 Week Fast 3 weeks US Design Patent Application $1,495 (includes $230 PTO filing fee and up to 3 dwg sheets) $1,095 (includes $230 PTO filing fee and up to 3 dwg sheets) Above prices include up to three drawing sheets and PTO filing fees of $230. I will send a check or money order by FedEx or UPS Overnight I will use a credit/debit card Misc. Info: You have the obligation to the US Patent & Trademark Office to fully disclose any non-patented prior art. Also, if you sold or offered the invention for sale more than one year ago, your patent rights may be reduced. Please provide any information that may limit your patent rights or otherwise affect the strength of the application below, or any other pertinent information or concerns that we should know about. How did you find our website?: Important Notice: In order to qualify for patent protection in the U.S., your invention must be new, useful, and non-obvious in light of all other prior art inventions. If it would be obvious to "one skilled in the art" or field of your invention, you may not ultimately receive a patent. Please be sure you understand the level of novelty of your device before assuming that merely by applying for a patent you will ultimately receive one. Patent Searches, if done through us or elsewhere, are never 100% complete, so there is always some risk that a patent search will have missed a relevant reference. Further, a patent application in the US must be filed no later than one year after the invention is first used in public, offered for sale, or described in a printed publication. "File as early as possible" is usually good advice. Unless a US patent is filed before public disclosure, you may be precluded from later filing a foreign patent. Each country has its own patent laws and filing requirements. You should make us aware of any potential public use or offer for sale of your invention beforehand so we can advise you as to the potential ramifications of public disclosure. Upon submission of your order we will begin preparation of the above identified patent application. * Do you agree to these terms (type "yes"/"no"):