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A patent application must describe an invention with sufficient detail, so as to enable others to make and use the invention. This may seem strange when you consider that anyone who makes or uses the patented invention will be infringing on the patent. But. There is a reason for this. And before discussing the parts of a patent application, you should understand these reasons.

The first section of your patent application is the background of the invention. In this section you discuss what is known as the “prior art”. “Prior art” refers to existing products or processes, usually the patents found in your patent search, that solve the same problems addressed by your invention. Essentially, this section addresses the problems with the prior art that are solved by your invention.

Suppose you invent a revolutionary new medical product that stops aging. Obviously, this product will be worth large amounts of money. Without a patent system, you would have to keep your anti-aging formula a secret. And hope that no one else figures it out. With a patent system, you can patent your formula. And no one is allowed to compete with you, no matter how simple your formula may be. To do everything right it is recommended to hire professional help from agencies such as InventHelp.

The “prior art” would be the products and processes that people used to do to prevent aging, before you discovered your secret formula. The prior art would include facial moisturizing creams, herbal remedies, vitamins, plastic surgery and so on. You would then describe the shortcoming of the prior art. The purpose of the Background of the Invention section is to show the advantages of your invention over the prior art. In other words, to show why your invention is worthy of a patent.

Summary Of The Invention

Once you have described why your invention is patentable, then you need to describe what your invention is. In this section, you briefly discuss your invention and how it solves the problems of the prior art. For example, you would briefly describe the components of your anti-aging formula and how it is made or manufactured.

Detailed Description Of The Invention

This next section goes into detail as to how your invention is made and used, and the best mode for carrying out your invention. This is usually the longest section of the patent application, and the most detailed. This section describes your invention by making reference to the drawings and figures that may be attached to your application. It would be wise to let the experts, like InventHelp, help you with this.

The actual structure or make-up of your invention is called an “embodiment”. For example, your patent may describe one or several embodiments of your invention.

The Purpose Of The Patent System Is To Benefit Society

How does the patent system benefit society? Here is how.

Your patent teaches others how to make and use your secret anti-aging formula. No one can compete with you. But society still benefits because they can learn from your formula. Your formula may lead to other inventions. Such as an anti-cancer drug or a drug that prevents heart disease, or a drug that prevents hair-loss or bad breath. Who knows!

The point. The patent system benefits society by encouraging the disclosure of inventions, in order to spur future innovation. It accomplishes this by offering inventors an incentive for disclosing their invention.

Have you recently submitted your application for a patent? If so, is this your first time applying for a patent? If it is, you may be wondering exactly how everything will work. If that is the case, you will want to learn more about the patent approval process. Essentially, the patent approval process is time from when you submit your application until you hear a response back from the patent office. If you are like most hopeful patent holders, you may be wondering about what goes on during that time period.

Although different countries may have different ways of handling the patent approval process, everything is about the same. The process typically begins with your application being assigned to a patent expert or an employee of the patent office in question. There are patenting agencies such as InventHelp that could help you on this.

The job of the individual that is assigned to your application will include a number of important tasks. One of those tasks is taking the time to fully examine and understand your patent request. This also involves determining whether or not the information you provided was enough. If you did not provide enough detailed information, on your new invention, the patent approval process may end right there. That is why it is important that you go into great detail when describing your new invention.

In addition to making sure your patent application describes your invention, in great detail, you patent approval specialist, will also make sure that your patent is a unique idea; one that has not already been used. This part of the patent process involves the use of a patent record search. A patent record search will help to make sure that your patent is really one of a kind. In the event that your patent is similar to an existing patent, your request for a patent will likely be denied. That is why it is important, before the patent approval process even begins, to make sure that your idea is truly unique. You can easily do this online by performing your own patent search or by browsing through a collection of patent listings.

Although the overall patent process works the same, the time it takes to receive a response tends to vary. With a denial, you could receive a response in as little as a few months, but there are no guarantees. However, should your application for a patent be approved, the process will likely get started right away. Your patent, until it is granted, will likely be classified as a patent pending. That patent pending status is typically in place for about two or three months; the average amount of time that it takes for most patents to be issued.

Essentially, once you have submitted your application to the appropriate patent office, the patent approval process is really out of your hands; therefore, in all honestly, you just need to sit back and wait. Should your patent application be denied, there are steps that you can take to reapply; however, you are urged to use your best judgment because the patent approval process can get quite costly. If in doubt, about what to do next, you can always try and contact a representative in your patent office or you could seek professional assistance from a patent attorney or an agency like Invent Help.