Patent pending in 24 hours

Table of Contents......Page 9
1. The Provisional Patent Application......Page 13
How a Provisional Patent Application Works......Page 15
Advantages of Filing a Provisional Patent Application......Page 18
Potential Disadvantages of Filing a Provisional Application......Page 27
Preparing Your Provisional Patent Application......Page 28
Drinking Beer and Listening to the Car Radio: Two Provisional Patent Applications......Page 30
2. Deciding Whether to File a Provisional Application: The Seven Hurdles......Page 37
Hurdle #1: Is It Commercial?......Page 40
Hurdle #2: Did You Invent It?......Page 46
Hurdle #3: Do You Own It?......Page 49
Hurdle #4: Is It Useful?......Page 51
Hurdle #5: Does It Fit in One of the Patent Classes?......Page 52
Hurdle #6: Is It New?......Page 54
Hurdle #7: Is It Obvious?......Page 55
Patent Hurdles......Page 56
3. Finding Previous Inventions......Page 59
Internet Patent-Searching Tips......Page 62
Searching the USPTO Website......Page 68
How to Read a Patent......Page 77
Finding Prior Art That Isn’t Currently Patented......Page 83
After the Preliminary Search......Page 87
4. Drafting the Provisional Patent Application: Part 1—Drawing Your Invention......Page 93
Basic Patent Drafting Principles......Page 96
Getting Started......Page 99
Tips for Inventors Who Have a Prototype but Can’t Draw......Page 101
Tips for Inventors Who Don’t Have a Prototype and Can’t Draw......Page 107
Drawings for Software, Business Methods, Electrical Inventions, and Chemical Compounds......Page 109
5. Drafting the Provisional Patent Application: Part II—Describing Your Invention......Page 115
What Do You Call Your Invention?......Page 117
What Are the Names and Addresses of the Inventors?......Page 118
What Are the Advantages of Your Invention Over the Prior Art?......Page 119
What Drawing Figures Have You Included?......Page 120
What Are the Components of Your Invention and How Do They Interact?......Page 121
How Does the Invention Achieve Its Result?......Page 125
What Are Alternative Ways That Your Invention Can Achieve Its Result?......Page 126
Putting It All Together......Page 127
6. Filing and Beyond......Page 135
How to File Your Provisional Patent Application......Page 136
Filing a Regular Patent Application......Page 149
Marking Your Invention “Patent Pending”......Page 150
What Happens If You Modify Your Invention?......Page 151
International Rules to Remember......Page 152
Appendix A: Provisional Patent Applications......Page 157
Pasteurization......Page 159
The Telephone......Page 164
Car Radio......Page 177
Fly Mask......Page 184
Convertible Tent......Page 188
Non-Fogging Shower Mirror......Page 198
Three-Wheeled Scooter......Page 213
Musical Condom......Page 231
Fashion Business Method......Page 239
Watch With Speed Adjustment During Travel for Reducing Jet Lag (Mitchell Electrical Patent)......Page 260
Pre-Monopoly Board Game......Page 277
Advertising System for Airport......Page 286
Mashed Potato Machine......Page 299
Method of Viewing Panoramic Images......Page 310
Puppet Construction Kit......Page 327
Ergonomic Mouse......Page 345
Talking Stick Horse......Page 357
Appendix B: Agreements......Page 373
Nondisclosure Agreement......Page 374
Joint Ownership Agreement for Inventors......Page 380
Agreement for Creation of Prototype or Patent Drawings......Page 386
Invention Assignment......Page 389
Appendix C: Glossaries......Page 391
Glossary of Useful Technical Terms......Page 392
Glossary of Patent Terms......Page 406
Appendix D: The Inventor’s Notebook......Page 417
Appendix E: Attorneys......Page 425
Finding an Attorney......Page 426
Keeping Fees Down......Page 427
Appendix F: Resources......Page 429
Inventor Resources......Page 430
Internet Patent-Searching Resources......Page 431
Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries......Page 433
Index......Page 439
Related Products......Page 447