Patents

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Utility patents are patents granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for inventions deemed as a new and useful chemical compound, device, unique process, apparatus, or fabricated product. Examples of utility patents may include medical devices, medicine, or automotive components. 

A design patent protects the ornamental design of a manufactured item, but not its structural or functional features. As a design is demonstrated in appearance, the focus of a design patent may recount the arrangement or contour of the item. Examples of design patents may include jewelry, eyeglasses, or furniture. 

A provisional patent application affords temporary (one year) protection by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); however, prior to the end of the one-year period, a nonprovisional patent application must be filed to preserve protection rights. 

The interim period enables the inventor time to market the idea or assess the functional practicality of the invention. While the "patent pending" label infers the invention is temporarily protected from replication, a provisional patent application is not an actual patent.