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Simple English definitions for legal terms
provisional patent application
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A quick definition of provisional patent application:
A provisional patent application is a type of patent application that provides a temporary way to protect an invention. It is a simpler and less expensive option than a regular patent application, and it allows the inventor to use the term "patent pending" while they work on developing their invention further. However, a provisional patent application does not guarantee that the invention will be granted a patent in the future.
A more thorough explanation:
PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
A provisional patent application is a type of patent application that allows an inventor to establish an early filing date for their invention. It is a temporary application that provides a year of protection while the inventor works on their invention and decides whether to file a non-provisional patent application.
Example 1: John invents a new type of bicycle wheel and wants to protect his invention. He files a provisional patent application to establish an early filing date and has one year to decide whether to file a non-provisional patent application.
Example 2: Sarah creates a new software program and wants to protect her invention. She files a provisional patent application to establish an early filing date and has one year to decide whether to file a non-provisional patent application.
A provisional patent application is a way for inventors to establish an early filing date for their invention without having to file a complete non-provisional patent application. This allows them to have a year of protection while they work on their invention and decide whether to pursue a full patent. The examples illustrate how inventors in different fields can use provisional patent applications to protect their inventions.