Patents are a form of intellectual property that give inventors the exclusive right to make, use, and sell their invention for a certain period of time. There are four main types of patents: utility patents, design patents, plant patents, and provisional patents.
Utility patents: These patents cover new and useful processes, machines, articles of manufacture, or compositions of matter, or new and useful improvements thereof. This is the most common type of patent and covers a wide range of inventions, including mechanical devices, chemical compounds, and software.
Design patents: These patents cover new, original, and ornamental designs for an article of manufacture. This type of patent is less common and is typically used to protect the aesthetic appearance of a product, such as the design of a chair or a toy.
Plant patents: These patents cover new and distinct varieties of asexually reproduced plants. This type of patent is relatively rare and is typically used to protect new plant varieties developed through techniques such as grafting or tissue culture.
Provisional patents: These patents are a type of temporary patent that can be filed to establish an early effective filing date for a later-filed nonprovisional patent application. It is a temporary patent pending application and can be used as evidence of invention and allows the inventor to mark their invention as "patent pending."
In conclusion, patents are a powerful tool for inventors to protect their creations. Understanding the different types of patents available and how they can be used can help inventors make informed decisions about how to protect their inventions. If you are a thinking about protecting your inventions to file a federal trademark and if you are starting a business and need to form an LLC? CreateYourLLC.com is the perfect solution for you. Click here to begin ►File your federal trademark