Preparation of U.S. Patent Applications

The Need

Patent applications have been described as being among the most difficult legal documents to prepare. The preparation of a patent application requires technical fluency, legal competence, and the ability to express ideas coherently in writing. At various points in the life cycle of a patent, it may be read by patent examiners, the public, lawyers, judges, and juries. Crafting a document that will have meaning for such a diverse audience and true value for its owner can be a monumental task. Those who attempt to prepare patent applications themselves often end up with minimal patent protection at best.

The Service

The process of preparing a patent application can be a long one, and typically begins with a study of any disclosure materials provided by the client, including sketches, prototypes, and written description. Before the actual application preparation work begins, a patentability search and study may be recommended. Once it is decided that the innovation is patentable, the preparation process begins in earnest, usually by discussing the details of the innovation with the client. Once the details of the innovation are understood, the written text of the patent application is prepared, and a professional draftsman is retained to prepare patent drawings. As soon as a draft of the patent application is available, the draft is sent to the client for review, and any necessary revisions are made. Once a final draft is complete, a final decision is made as to inventorship. If necessary, the named inventors are then asked to sign the proper forms attesting to the patent application, and the application is filed in the U.S.P.T.O.