LawInfo

A non­provisional application for a patent is made to the Assistant Commissioner for Patents and includes:

1. A written document which comprises a specification (description and claims), and an oath or declaration;

2. A drawing in those cases in which a drawing is necessary; and

3. The filing fee. Payment of small entity fees must be supported by a small entity statement.

All application papers must be in the English language or a translation into the English language will be required along with the required fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(k). All application papers must be legibly written on only one side either by a typewriter or mechanical printer in permanent dark ink or its equivalent in portrait orientation on flexible, strong, smooth, non­shiny, durable and white paper.

The papers must be presented in a form having sufficient clarity and contrast between the paper and the writing to permit electronic reproduction. The application papers must all be the same size­­either 21.0 cm by 29.7 cm (DIN size A4) or 21.6 cm by 27.9 cm (8 1/2 by 11 inches), with a top margins of at least 2.0 cm (3/4 inch), a left side margin of at least 2.5 cm (1 inch), a right side margin of at least 2.0 cm (3/4 inch) and a bottom margin of at least 2.0 cm (3/4 inch) with no holes made in the submitted papers. It is also required that the spacing on all papers be 1 1/2 or double spaced and the application papers must be numbered consecutively (centrally located above or below the text) starting with page one.

The application for patent is not forwarded for examination until all required parts, complying with the rules related thereto, are received. If any application is filed without all the required parts for obtaining a filing date (incomplete or defective), the applicant will be notified of the deficiencies and given a time period to complete the application filing (a surcharge may be required)­at which time a filing date as of the date of such a completed submission will be obtained by the applicant. If the omission is not corrected within a set, specified time period, the application will be returned or otherwise disposed of; the filing fee if submitted will be refunded less a handling fee as set forth in the fee schedule.

Intellectual Property Sub-categories