Skip to content
  • About
  • Services
    • Phone Interview
    • Initial Meeting
    • Invention Analysis
    • Plan of Action
    • Invention Design
    • 2D/3D Illustrations
    • Invention Engineering
    • Patent Protection
    • Market Research
    • Manufacturers Search
    • Invention Brochures
    • Licensing & Royalties
  • Submit
  • Benefits
  • Blog
  • Contact
Menu
  • About
  • Services
    • Phone Interview
    • Initial Meeting
    • Invention Analysis
    • Plan of Action
    • Invention Design
    • 2D/3D Illustrations
    • Invention Engineering
    • Patent Protection
    • Market Research
    • Manufacturers Search
    • Invention Brochures
    • Licensing & Royalties
  • Submit
  • Benefits
  • Blog
  • Contact

972-402-0000

Irving, Texas

  • About
  • Services
    • Phone Interview
    • Initial Meeting
    • Invention Analysis
    • Plan of Action
    • Invention Design
    • 2D/3D Illustrations
    • Invention Engineering
    • Patent Protection
    • Market Research
    • Manufacturers Search
    • Invention Brochures
    • Licensing & Royalties
  • Submit
  • Benefits
  • Blog
  • Contact
Menu
  • About
  • Services
    • Phone Interview
    • Initial Meeting
    • Invention Analysis
    • Plan of Action
    • Invention Design
    • 2D/3D Illustrations
    • Invention Engineering
    • Patent Protection
    • Market Research
    • Manufacturers Search
    • Invention Brochures
    • Licensing & Royalties
  • Submit
  • Benefits
  • Blog
  • Contact
Free Invention Analysis

3 Common Provisional Patent Filing Mistakes

  • August 5, 2015

Most people with a marketable product idea protect it by filing a provisional patent while they continue to develop further their idea. As the United States Patent and Trademark Office explains, this type of patent application allows you to protect your idea by securing a patent pending status without having to submit a formal patent claim, declaration or oath, or the information disclosure statement required of a nonprovisional patent application.

Here at Lonestar Patent Services, our U.S. registered patent attorneys write and file provisional applications while our clients perfect their inventions. This interim step before filing a nonprovisional patent application affords the opportunity to test the market for the invention and make sure patent claims are all-inclusive to protect against competitor redesigns.

Many people try to save money and perform the provisional patent filing themselves without seeking legal guidance. Unfortunately, this often leads to missteps that could result in an incomplete filing that jeopardizes the patent protection of your invention.

The three most common provisional application mistakes we see occurring with those who take the do-it-yourself route are:

1. Not Including Enough Description Details. Under the U.S. Patent Act, the interim patent filing must include the same level of detail when describing your invention as required in the nonprovisional filing. Without sufficient details, a filing date cannot be established, which means your invention is not protected.

In addition, an incomplete description could lead others to contest your patent by claiming you did not have a completed invention at the time of filing for patent pending status.

Remember, providing the full scope of your invention is essential to having a valid provisional patent application.

2. Not Considering All Variations. Many inventors are comfortable describing their product idea, but they fail to go deeper and think about possible variations and alternatives that competitors can use to sidestep their patent.

All possible variations need to be covered in your patent application to prevent competitors from finding a way to duplicate your idea without infringing on your patent. Also, think about optional features one can add to your invention. This is another way competitors can exploit if not claimed by you in your preliminary filing.

It’s important to include broad and detailed descriptions, claims and disclosures of these alternatives, variations, and optional features, so it is clear what your patent covers. Even if these alternatives do not work well or do not deliver optimal performance, it is crucial to include them in your provisional filing nonetheless. Unfortunately, the knock-off industry makes a lot of money selling inferior products.

3. Not Filing a Nonprovisional Patent After 12 Months. A provisional patent is only good for 12 months from its filing date. After that, your invention is not protected unless you file a corresponding nonprovisional patent application before your patent pending status expires.

Under no circumstances can a provisional application be extended, so be sure to secure your patent before it expires.

A Winning Formula With Lonestar

When you have an idea, there’s a lot of research, development, engineering drawings, 3D renderings, prototypes, market research and patent applications to do before your product can hit the market.

At Lonestar Patent Services, we lend a helping hand, working with you through all invention R&D stages. Since 1988, we’ve been helping inventors turn their ideas into fully developed products and present them to industry-specific Fortune 1000 corporations for purchase or licensing.

We’d like to do the same for your idea as well. Contact Lonestar today and save yourself a lot of time, effort, and missteps by putting your trust in the intellectual property experts.

  • Patent Application, Patent Assistance, Patents
Inventions
Tech

Latest Posts

New patent reveals Facebook is exploring a modular phone
New patent reveals Facebook is exploring a modular phone
Facebook is exploring new handheld gadget with interchangeable parts that could used like a smartphone or portable speaker, a new ...
Should the Patent and Trademark Office Be Allowed to Change Its Mind?
Should the Patent and Trademark Office Be Allowed to Change Its Mind?
A patent on one-click checkout? On a method for exercising a cat? On a lawn bag that looks like a ...
Provisional Patent Applications: To File or Not File
Provisional Patent Applications: To File or Not File
Since 1995, the United States has allowed patent applicants to file provisional applications as an alternative to filing non-provisional utility ...
Joint 3D scanning-3D printing device officially receives US patent
Joint 3D scanning-3D printing device officially receives US patent
Separate devices for 3D scanning and 3D printing could soon be a thing of the past, according to a new ...
Facebook seeks patent for payment system
Facebook seeks patent for payment system
Facebook has moved the country’s patent office seeking patent for its invention relating to a transactional payment system that allows ...
Practical Pointers for managing Patents
Practical Pointers for managing Patents
Adopting good house keeping practices is a prerequisite to efficient management of patents. To avoid costly mistakes while prosecuting and ...
Previous
Next
View all Posts

What's on Your Mind?

Submit your Idea for your Free
Patent Search Now.

FREE PATENT SEARCH
  • 972.402.0000
  • [email protected]

What's on Your Mind?

Submit your Idea for your Free
Patent Search Now.

FREE PATENT SEARCH
  • 972.402.0000
  • [email protected]

Give Us a Call

972.402.0000

Evaluate

  • Phone Interview
  • Initial Meeting
  • Invention Analysis
  • Plan of Action

Develop

  • Invention Design
  • 2D/3D Illustrations
  • Invention Engineering
  • Patent Protection

Launch

  • Market Research
  • Manufacturers Search
  • Invention Brochures
  • Licensing & Royalties

Address

6565 N.MacArthur Blvd, Irving, Texas 75039

Phone

972.402.0000

800.962.3032

972.402.0095

Email

[email protected]

Evaluate

  • Phone Interview
  • Office Meeting
  • Invention Analysis
  • Plan of Action

Develop

  • Invention Design
  • 2D/3D Illustrations
  • Invention Engineering
  • Patent Protection

Launch

  • Market Research
  • Manufacturers Search
  • Invention Brochures
  • Licensing & Royalties

Follow Us

Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin-in Pinterest-p Twitter
© 2022, Lonestar Patent Services, Inc.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Free Invention Analysis

×

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

This agreement keeps your idea safe between you and Lonestar Patent Services.

I understand that the product idea information I submit cannot be used, disclosed or sold without my express written permission. I also understand that all Lonestar Patent Services employees are required to sign an ethics and confidentiality agreement for my protection. I believe that I am the original inventor of the idea described herein. I authorize Lonestar Patent Services to review my idea and contact me in 3 to 5 business days with the results. I acknowledge that Lonestar Patent Services monitors and records telephone calls for quality assurance. I understand that Lonestar Patent Services does not promise any financial gain from the development of any new product idea.

By clicking the “submit” button below as my electronic signature, I expressly consent to being contacted about Lonestar Patent Services by phone call, auto-dialed phone call including prerecorded voice messages, text messages or email at any number or email address I provide. I understand that my consent is not a requirement for purchase of services.

Fee based service.