How to Patent a Product or Design

By Jennifer Brister
a product, you
Wireframe Copyright Symbol image by Stacey Alexander from

In the United States, inventors are given the exclusive right to manufacture their own products. In order to do this, inventors must patent their products and designs before they begin to build them. All United States patents are issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Search the USPTO website ( for other products that are similar to your own. If your idea is too similar to one which has already been patented, you may not be eligible to receive a patent.

Request a provisional patent if you would like a little extra time to develop your product before it is publicly disclosed. Your patent status will be "patent pending" and you can have up to an additional year to develop your design.

Create an in-depth description of the product. Use details to describe the composition of the product, the design, and the manufacturing process. You will also need to explain what the product does and how it works.

Request a patent from the USPTO website using the product description that you created. You will likely be asked by the patent office to clear up any unclear language. Once you have reached an agreement over the language of the patent, the USPTO will grant your patent.

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