What Is a Patent?

A patent is a document that gives the inventor or owners of the invention the right to prevent others from making, using, or selling the invention for a period of 20 years from the date of filing. The term “patent” derives from the Latin word “patere,” which means “to lay open.” A patent application lays open an invention for public inspection. After a patent issues, anyone who infringes on the patent can be sued by its owner.

How Do You Get A Patent?

The process of obtaining a patent involves working with patent attorneys or agencies, such as InventHelp, who are experts in law and science (as opposed to attorneys who handle only legal matters). Process begins when you file a utility application with the U.S. Patent Office and ends when your application issues as a patent. You can file either before or after you manufacture or sell your invention, but if you have not manufactured or sold it yet, you must disclose enough details so that someone skilled in the relevant art could make and use it without undue experimentation.

The process can take anywhere from three months to two years, depending on how quickly the Patent Office processes your application. You will need to pay fees and provide copies of patent drawings before the Patent Office will issue you a patent.

The Patent Office will review your patent application and may require you to make changes or additions before issuing a patent. If you want to sell your invention, it is important to get it patented before doing so.

There are professional patent agencies, like Invent Help, that can help you with the process. InventHelp also offers patent protection for international applications.

There are a lot of reviews for InventHelp online and you can see that InventHelp is a reputable company that will help you get your idea off the ground. They offer advice and support to inventors of all experience levels, as well as assistance with patent applications. If you have an idea for a new product or invention, but are not sure where to start, InventHelp can help.