1.- US Utility Patent Application Requirements

1. Name and address of the applicant. If it is a Company, place of incorporation.
2. Name, address and citizenship of the Inventor(s).
3. Invention Title, Abstract of the Invention or Design.
4. Invention specifications / description.
5. Claims.
6. Formal Drawings.
7. English translation of the specification is required.
8. Declaration / Oath of Inventors which does not need to be notarized.
9. Certified priority document, including priority number and country of origin, accompanied by an English translation (The priority could be claimed if the foreign patent application was filed within 12 months).

2.- Assignment Agreement

An Assignment Agreement should be filed if the applicant is different than the inventor.

Patents in United States

Utility Patent is effective for a term of: 20 years (from the filing date)

The Design patent is effective for a term of: 14 years (from the date of issue)

Approximate Patent Application processing time: 1 to 2 years.

Member of the Paris Convention: Yes

Member of the PCT: Yes

US Patent Office: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

1. Patent Filing
2. First Office Action (it describes what is not right with the invention application). Between 6 to 24 months from filing date.
3. Response to Office Action, (Amendments, in general within 3 months). Approximately within 6 months the patent office will give you an indication of your amendment.
4. Publication: 18 months from the filing date the patent application will be published on USPTO´s website.
5. Acceptance (Notice of Allowance) or rejection.
6. Payment of the Issue Fees.

Maintenance fees payable at 3-3.5 years, 7-7.5 years and 11-11.5 years from issue date.

There are no maintenance fees for Design Patents or for Plant Patents.