DO-IT-YOURSELF

Do-It-Yourself Utility Patent Application

I don't recommend preparing your own utility patent application, unless it's absolutely your last resort (e.g., you're temporarily flat broke). There are so many opportunities for mistakes that you're sure to make one. But if I can't discourage you from doing so, get the book, "Patent-It-Yourself," by David Pressman and published by Nolo Press.

Do-It-Yourself Provisional Patent Application

A provisional patent application is similar a utility one except a provisional doesn't require formal drawings or a set of claims. A provisional patent application will not be examined for patentability nor will it ever become a patent until, within a year, you convert the provisional into a utility patent application, at which point the Patent Office handles it much like any other non-provisional application.

Converting a provisional to a utility involves submitting a set of claims, formal drawings, and a utility filing fee. If you plan to convert your provisional patent application to a utility one and hope to eventually get a patent, the provisional better be done right. In other words, don't do it yourself.

If, however, you don't plan to actually patent your invention but would still like to legitimately mark your invention "patent pending" for one year then you may want to consider preparing a provisional patent application yourself. The U. S. Patent Office charges a $105 filing fee for a provisional patent application. Such a provisional patent application provides absolutely no patent protection whatsoever, but others may think twice before copying your product if it's legitimately marked, "patent pending." If you're interested in doing this, check out this free provisional patent application kit