Protect to Perfect: Understanding Different Types of Patents

Inventors or businesses often find themselves at a crossroads of turning an inventive concept into commercial success. At this juncture, it becomes essential to protect the invention from unauthorized use or duplication by obtaining a patent. There are several types of patents that protect different aspects of invention and innovation. Using services like InventHelp can help you navigate through these options seamlessly.

Patent: A Brief Overview

A patent is a right granted by a government authority, such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), to an inventor. This right allows the inventor to prevent others from making, using, selling, or importing their invention without permission for a specified period, typically 20 years. Now, let’s see what are the different types of patents?

Different Types of Patents

There are primarily three types of patents granted by the USPTO:

Utility Patents

Utility patents are the most common type of patents issued by the USPTO. These patents are granted for new, useful processes, machines, articles of manufacture, or compositions of matter. In other words, utility patents are granted for any new and useful improvement in technology or processes.

Design Patents

Design patents protect the unique visual design of a manufactured object. Unlike utility patents that cover how an invention works, a design patent is granted for a new, original, and ornamental design embodied in or applied to a manufactured article.

Plant Patents

Plant patents are granted to any person who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant. It offers protection to inventors who breed, or discover and develop new varieties of plants.

How InventHelp Can Assist

Enter InventHelp, a Pittsburgh-based firm helping inventors submit their inventions or product ideas to industry. With over 30 years of experience, InventHelp assists inventors to navigate the path to obtain patents, connect with manufacturers and hone their ideas. Whether your idea fits into the category of utility patents, design patents, or plant patents, InventHelp can help demystify the complexities of the invention journey:

Patent Services

InventHelp’s Patent Services can assist you from start to finish with your patenting needs. With their extensive experience in the field, InventHelp’s patent attorneys can walk you through every step of the process and answer any questions that come up along the way, such as “do I need a patent to sell my invention idea?“.

Prototype Services

InventHelp also offers prototype services to develop a physical model of an invention, aiding the patenting process and providing a valuable tool for presentation to potential licensors or manufacturers.

Submission to Industry

InventHelp can prepare and submit your idea to companies who have agreed in advance to review InventHelp-client inventions in confidence.

Final Thoughts

Understanding and obtaining the right type of patent for your invention is a fundamental step in its journey from ideation to realization. Working with a service like InventHelp can provide crucial guidance and resources in the path to success, bridging the complex milieu between your inventive brainchild and the commercial marketplace. For every inventor, having a patent in place is a testament to their innovation’s uniqueness and the first step towards commercial success.