Grant Application Cover Sheet: Fill & Download for Free

When filing, your application should consist of: (1) a detailed description (technically referred to as a specification), (2) a drawing (if applicable), (3) the USPTO Cover Sheet, and (4) the filing fee. The filing fee for a provisional patent application is $65 for a micro-entity, $130 for a small entity, and $260 for a large entity. Take a look at my past post titled “how do I write a good provisional patent application,” which discusses what’s required for a sufficient description and drawing. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has a website containing useful links for entrepreneurs like you attempting to file on their own. Lastly, the USPTO provides a helpful and succinct two-page pamphlet for individuals looking to apply for a provisional patent.You may file online by clicking here. I suggest you check out a step-by-step guide for filing online found on this site. It even provides screen shots of the application in order to literally walk you through the process.Alternatively, unlike non-provisional utility applications, provisional applications can be filed by mail or hand-delivery without having to pay an additional fee of $400. So if you prefer to apply by mail address your application to: Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. About a week after USPTO receives your application electronically or by mail, expect to receive confirmation from them of their receipt. Such communication should also grant you “PATENT PENDING” status.Feel free to visit us at LawTrades for affordable patent assistance. We offer payment plans with no added interest to make it more feasible for entrepreneurs to protect their inventions as well as free initial consults. Hope you check us out!

Filing a provisional patent application is certainly easier, cheaper and faster than filing a utility patent application. It’s a route that allows you to to buy some time (a year), to develop and market your idea. We've helped entrepreneurs file 100's of these over at LawTrades.If it gains traction during the year, then you can convert it into a utility patent; if not, then you can simply let it lapse knowing that you made the right decision to not invest the thousands of extra dollars and years it would’ve taken to obtain a utility patent.(1) Search Before You WriteThe first step you need to take is to do a patent search. This will tell you whether your idea has already received patent protection. Start here with Google Patent search. You’ll also want to search the USPTO database. Conclude your search with a simple worldwide search here.Conducting a general search (e.g., text search using Google) for inventions similar to your own that haven’t been patented is also a good exercise. This will reveal whether others have already productized your idea, and if so, how your idea is different - and hopefully superior. You’ll often find that there are many expressions of unpatented ideas floating around the marketplace. This is a rich source of information for you if you’re considering patenting your innovation.You’ll likely find inventions that are similar to your own, but not necessarily the same. Your job is to look for the differences and what makes your invention unique. Those distinctions are going to fortify your application, so make sure you’re able to describe those differences thoroughly, specifically and clearly.(2) Write Simply, But ThoroughlyYou should start by first writing a list of unique benefits and features that distinguish the novelty of your idea. I’d suggest taking your time in developing a very thorough, well thought out profile - a week or so is about right, with some attention devoted to developing your list each day. This will help you immensely when you start to complete the actual application.(3) The ApplicationYou application will consist of: (1) a specification, (2) a drawing, (3) the USPTO Cover Sheet, and (4) the filing fee.Your specification will include these sections: Title, Description of the Invention, Claims and Abstract.You will also need to include drawings. These can be sketched by hand and scanned into your specification doc, or you can do them with design software, CAD, PowerPoint, manuals or something similar - whichever is easier for you.The key thing to focus on with your drawings is to make sure you clearly, comprehensively and capably show enough detail of your innovations to convince the USPTO examiner that your idea should be granted patent protection.Next, you should specify your claims. Please note that you are not required to include your claims in a provisional application, so you can skip this part if you want to; however, it’s highly recommended that you do so. They describe what it is precisely that your patent protects.Keep it simple, but focused. Select the top features that distinguish your invention and provide a brief, but detailed description about each characteristic. You’re not writing a final set of claims (which will come later if you convert to a utility patent); you just need to make sure you’re not limited in the future. Therefore, your claim should follow this type of format: “A [machine, device, method - whatever it is you’re protecting] that consists of [insert the two or three distinguishing features here].”You’ll need to write an abstract, which simply means a very brief summary of your invention. For this part, you can simply re-state what you described in your claims.You will also need to complete a “Provisional Application for Patent Cover Sheet,” which you can download here.Finally, you’ll need to pay your fees. You can file electronically or non-electronically (snail mail). The non-electronic filing is $200-$400 (depending on your company’s size), and are in addition to the filing, search and examination fees.The application fees (separate from the above filing fee) ranges from $65 for a micro entity up to $260 for a large entity. You can see all USPTO fees here.Final Things You Need to KnowYour provisional patent will automatically lapse exactly one year from your filing date. If you want to convert your provisional patent to a utility patent, you must do so before the one year anniversary date of your filing. So, for example, if you filed your application on June 1, 2015, your must file your utility patent application no later than the close of business on June, 2016.Once you have filed, you’re entitled to use “patent pending.”You are not permitted to claim priority from another application.The provisional application must be made in the name/s of all inventor/s.If you convert your provisional to a utility application before the end of one year, you can claim priority to your previous provisional application/s.Please feel free to check out LawTrades for affordable and on-demand provisional patent filings completed by experienced patent attorneys. I also welcome any questions you have, so message me directly if I can help!

Based on your question it seems you are ready to file. If that’s that case, you have completed the tough parts! When filing, your application should consist of: (1) a detailed description (technically referred to as a specification), (2) a drawing (if applicable), (3) the USPTO Cover Sheet, and (4) the filing fee. The filing fee for a provisional patent application is $65 for a micro-entity, $130 for a small entity, and $260 for a large entity. Take a look at my past post titled “how do I write a good provisional patent application,” which discusses what’s required for a sufficient description and drawing. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has a website containing useful links for entrepreneurs like you attempting to file on their own. Lastly, the USPTO provides a helpful and succinct two-page pamphlet for individuals looking to apply for a provisional patent.You may file online by clicking here. I suggest you check out a step-by-step guide for filing online found on this site. It even provides screen shots of the application in order to literally walk you through the process.Alternatively, unlike non-provisional utility applications, provisional applications can be filed by mail or hand-delivery without having to pay an additional fee of $400. So if you prefer to apply by mail address your application to: Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. About a week after USPTO receives your application electronically or by mail, expect to receive confirmation from them of their receipt. Such communication should also grant you “PATENT PENDING” status.As most of the posts before me have touched on, if you haven’t reached the point of filing then I would suggest hiring an attorney to assist you with this complex transaction. Remember that a provisional patent application should basically mirror your non-provisional application, making it extremely important for your non-provisional application to be as sound as possible. A lawyer will help you accomplish this. Finding the right lawyer for your patent needs is one of the main reasons why LawTrades was started. You can use our marketplace to find a vetted/pre-screened patent attorney. The best part is that you can talk to them for free and get a price quote within just a few minutes of using the platform. Trying to save money and “do it yourself” can have disastrous consequences is a mistake is made so give it a ponder. Feel free to message me with any questions.