NOTE: This form is not intended as legal advice. Nor is it a solicitation for engagement. Rather, this form is supplied as a convenience for those seeking legal assistance from any patent attorney.

INVENTION DISCLOSURE FORM FOR UTILITY PATENT APPLICATION

Instructions: Provide the following information and promptly confer with your attorney

to develop a proper course of action. 

Descriptive Title:_____________________________________________________
Inventor: __________________________ Tel/Fax/Email ______________________
Address: __________________________________________ Citizenship: _______
(Include same information for co-inventors if applicable)
Employer: __________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________

1. What is the problem solved by the invention?______________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

2. How was the problem solved before the invention?_________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

3. Describe the invention - list and/or attach all relevant information (e.g., specifications
and drawings): ______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Utility - What does the invention do? ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Method - What functional steps does the invention perform? ____________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Novel Features - What are the features of the invention that distinguish it from other

known solutions to the problem being solved? _______________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Benefits - What positive or unexpected results are provided by the invention: __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

4. The invention was first conceived on (date)_______________________________

5. A prototype was completed and demonstrated on (date)_____________________

6. The invention was first published or otherwise disclosed on (date) _____________
    (describe nature of disclosure) ________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

7. The invention was first sold or offered for sale on (date)______________________
    (describe nature of sale or offer for sale) _________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Additional Patent Information:

• Design Patents protect the ornamental shape or external design of an article of manufacture.
• Plant Patents protect certain types of plants.
• A Primer on the Utility Patent Process in the United States. This is a narrative description of what a client might experience in working with a patent attorney to obtain a utility patent in the United States.
• Patent Screening Search for assessing patentability of an invention.
• Patent Opinion: The patent opinion concludes with its “opinion” as to the patentability of the invention based on the patent search results.
• Patent Plant: Plant patents are a relatively rare, specialized type of patent for protecting new and non-obvious species of plants.
• Patent Prosecution: Patent prosecution refers to the process of applying for a US patent and having the patent examined by the US Patent Office
• Patent Validity: The first step in determining the validity of a patent is to check whether the patent term has expired or the maintenance fees have not been paid.
• Provisional Applications for Patent: A provisional application for patent is a temporary application that offers a relatively quick and less expensive way (relative to a utility patent application) to officially file an invention disclosure with the U.S. patent office.
• Invention Disclosure Form for Utility/Provisional Patent
• Invention Disclosure Form for Design Patent