Provisional Patent Applications

Starting at $2,495

(Government Fees Not Included)

About Provisional Patent Applications

A provisional application is basically a 1-year reservation for your utility application. It looks similar, and can serve as a "priority application" to a regular utility patent application filed within 12 months.

The filing fees are much lower, and generally the provisional application can be filed more quickly and less expensively, yet still provides the inventor with the ability to legally claim "patent pending" on the invention. See the more detailed discussion below that further explains the differences between a provisional and a regular, non-provisional (utility) patent.

Provisional applications are useful when the invention has not yet been fully developed and is likely to change somewhat in the next few months. The changes can be made less expensively to the subsequent non-provisional application before it's filed.

Further a Provisional Application can be beneficial if cash flow is a consideration... it's less expensive to file a provisional application initially, although you will have to still file a non-provisional application within 12 months to protect the invention, so there will be some additional cost on the back end of the process even if it's less up-front.

Also, a provisional is useful if you want to buy another year of "patent pending" status, and are perhaps thinking that the prospects of getting the non-provisional application is not favorable (such as if you know there is a lot of relevant prior art, for example).

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Benefits

Quick and Less Expensive to File

Allows 12 months to perfect the invention

Allows inventor to legally claim "Patent Pending"

Buys an "extra year" of patent pending status

If we write your provisional, when it comes time to file your non-provisional, we don't charge you the full price of the non-provisional, but rather just the difference

Drawbacks

Does not, by itself, provide any protection

Delays PTO Examination (until regular Utility Application is filed)

Starts the 1-year timer to file most foreign patents

Full Service

Provisional Patent Application

What's Included?

QuickPatents Will Handle All of the Following For You:

One or more claims, summary, abstract, and detailed description (no background section written)

Preparation of formal drawings (up to three sheets; each additional sheet is $100)

Filing paperwork required by PTO

Electronic filing at the PTO

Starting At $2,495

(US Patent Price. Does not include government fees)

GET STARTED ONLINE

Download PDF Order Form

To get started, click the "GET STARTED ONLINE" button for your desired situation above. Alternately, for the full service provisional patent application, you may fax or mail this Provisional Application Order Form with sketches, patent search results or copies of prior art patents, payment, and any other necessary information. Please note that provisional patents typically take 3+ weeks to file after payment has been received, but may take longer if there is a waiting list. We will advise you of an anticipated filing date upon receipt of your order.

* Design Patent Application fee is for patents filed in the United States and does not include government filing fees.

Timelines & Costs

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Sample Utility Patent

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