What is a provisional patent application?

Provisional patent applications are very common among inventors who want to begin with the patent process. Many inventors choose to file for patent application themselves without the help of a patent drafting/preparation attorney but they end up making a lot of mistakes or forgetting that there are many requirements that need to be met to make a provisional application effective. Process of Provision Patent Drafting/Preparation

Provisional patent applications have been a part of the patent process in the United States since 1995. The term provision itself signifies that they are temporary. They are never examined by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. To obtain patent protection, an individual who files a provisional application should file a regular application within one year of the filing date of the provisional application. In case the regular or non-provisional patent application is not filed by the end of the year, the provision application expires. These applications are less costly to file because the government fees are less, and there is no need to file patent claims. During the process of patent drafting/preparation, the inventor needs to meet all the requirements. In addition to the description of the invention, you need to include all drawings important to understand the invention, names of the inventors, the filing fee and the cover sheet that identifies the invention. Different uses of provisional applications

There are some situations when the provisional patent can be useful. When patent right can be lost if an application is not filed on time, it is a good decision to file a hastily drafted provisional patent application at that time. Another good use of these applications is to extend the life of the patent. Also, inventors choose this type of patent if they cannot afford to hire the services of a lawyer with good hands-on experience in the field of patent validity support, patent drafting/preparation and conducting freedom to operate search..

Many believe it is easy to file a provision patent application. But if you go in more details, you will find there are many things that can make this process daunting. Your application should include all the potential patentable subject matter for your invention. While it is always alluring to prefer an option that saves you money but sometimes cheaper options can land you in financial losses. So you should hire an expert who has sound knowledge and experience in helping clients file the patent. The Internet will be the right place to look for trusted companies operating in the patent industry.