Patent Terms Glossary

Citation Counts

Definition:
Citation counts are a formal acknowledgement of intellectual debt to earlier patents and previously published scientific research papers.

Abandonment

Definition:
A patent application becomes abandoned for failure to file a complete and proper reply as the condition of the application may require within the time period.

Disclosure Document

Definition:
A document disclosing an invention, and signed by the inventor or inventors, that is forwarded to the USPTO only as evidence of the date of conception of the invention.

Term of patent

Definition:
The maximum number of years that the monopoly rights conferred by the grant of a patent may last.

Provisional Patent Application

Definition:
A provisional application for patent is a U. S. national application for patent filed in the USPTO under 35 U.S.C. § 111(b). It allows filing without a formal patent claim, oath or declaration, or any information disclosure (prior art) statement.

Consisting Essentially Of

Definition:
A transitional phrase that limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention.

Bookmark:           
Permalink:  http://S-0.ORG/tn9tZ5L

Contact our Patent Professionals to ensure you complete the patent filing process correctly or for violation of your patent rights.