What happens after the patent application is filed?

• What is a patent?

• What can be patented?

• Does an invention have to be completely new to be patented?

• Who can apply for a patent?

• What standards are applied to determine if an invention is patentable?

• What is the first step in patenting an invention?

• When and how is a patent application prepared?

• What information goes into the patent specification?

• What is the function of the patent Claims?

• Are there different types of patent applications?

• What happens after the patent application is filed?

• Is there any recourse from an unfavorable final office action?

• What happens once the examiner finds the claims are allowable?

• Does the inventor have to wait for the issuance of his/her patent before beginning to manufacture or market the invention?

• How long does the entire patenting process take?

• Should an inventor disclose his/her invention to others prior to filing a patent application?

• What happens if two applications are filed for the same invention?

• How long does patent protection last?

• Does a U.S. Patent provide protection from foreign competition?

• How is a patent enforced?

• Can patent rights be sold?

• Does an employee’s invention automatically belong to their employer?

• What is a patent license?

• How does an inventor go about licensing his/her invention?

• Once a patent is issued, can it be revoked or modified?

• What are the maintenance requirements after a patent is issued?

Microwave Boiler and Hot Water Heater

Pre-Ignition Fuel Treatment System

Simulated Balloon Display and Method

Botanical Drug Compositions

Computer for Emergency Responders

Pet Carrier Garment

Human Echolocation System

Water Based Adhesive Curing Process

Hand Wash Monitoring System

The filed application is first reviewed in the Patent Office for completeness. In some instances, a Notice to File Missing Parts may be issued after the initial filing. Once the application is complete, a Foreign Filing License is issued by the Patent Office. This gives the inventor a period of one year (or six months for Design Patent applications) to file international patent applications based on the priority date of the U.S. application. The application is then referred to a specific Group Art Unit within the Patent Office that deals with the field of art most relevant to the invention at hand. An individual Patent Examiner is assigned to review the application. After his/her initial review the

Patent Examiner will issue a first Office Action, in which he/she will: (a) find all of the claims to be allowable, (b) find some of the claims to be allowable, while objecting to or rejecting other claims, or (c) reject all of the claims. The patent attorney for the inventor will then prepare a response to the initial Office Action, in which response the attorney may amend the claims in an effort to overcome the Examiner’s rejections. In addition, or alternately, the attorney’s response may traverse the Examiner’s objections/rejections by offering legal arguments. The Examiner will then issue a final Office Action, which again may allow some or all of the claims and/or reject some or all of them.