Provisional Patent Application Forms
A provisional patent application allows you to file without a formal patent claim, oath or declaration, or any information disclosure (prior art) statement.
臨時專利申請案不需要提供正式請求項、宣示或任何現有技術之揭露。
A provisional application for patent (provisional application) is a U.S. national application filed in the USPTO under 35 U.S.C. §111(b). A provisional application is not required to have a formal patent claim or an oath or declaration. Provisional applications also should not include any information disclosure (prior art) statement since provisional applications are not examined. A provisional application provides the means to establish an early effective filing date in a later filed nonprovisional patent application filed under 35 U.S.C. §111(a). It also allows the term “Patent Pending” to be applied in connection with the description of the invention.
臨時專利申請案不需要有正式請求項，因為臨時案不會經過審查，亦不需要包含任何關於前案的資訊揭露。臨時申請案提供之後申請正式案時一個建立較早的有效申請日的手段，也可以在與之相關聯的發明使用「專利申請中」的標示*。
*在美國境內不實使用「專利申請中」宣傳物品，意圖欺騙大眾，最高罰款 $500。
*35 U.S. Code § 292 – False marking
(a) ……Whoever marks upon, or affixes to, or uses in advertising in connection with any article, the words “patent applied for,” “patent pending,” or any word importing that an application for patent has been made, when no application for patent has been made, or if made, is not pending, for the purpose of deceiving the public—
Shall be fined not more than $500 for every such offense. Only the United States may sue for the penalty authorized by this subsection.
A provisional application for patent has a pendency lasting 12 months from the date the provisional application is filed. The 12-month pendency period cannot be extended. Therefore, an applicant who files a provisional application must file a
corresponding nonprovisional application for patent (nonprovisional application) during the 12-month pendency period of the provisional application in order to benefit from the earlier filing of the provisional application. However, a nonprovisional application that was filed more than 12 months after the filing date of the provisional application, but within 14 months after the filing date of the provisional application, may have the benefit of the provisional application restored by filing a grantable petition (including a statement that the delay in filing the nonprovisional application was unintentional and the required petition fee) to restore the benefit under 37 CFR 1.78.
申請臨時案須在 12 個月內申請相對應的正式案。然而，在申請臨時案後超過 12 個月但未滿 14 個月，仍可繳交規費（以及一份該延遲為非故意的聲明）以恢復臨時案的權益*。
*國際申請案在 PCT 規則下須符合 (i)合理注意或 (ii) 非故意的條件。
*37 CFR § 1.78 – Claiming benefit of earlier filing date and cross-references to other applications.
(b) Delayed filing of the subsequent nonprovisional application or international application designating the United States. ……the benefit of the provisional application may be restored under PCT Rule 26bis.3 for an international application
*26bis.2 Defects in Priority Claims
(i) occurred in spite of due care required by the circumstances having been taken; or
(ii) was unintentional.
In accordance with 35 U.S.C. §119(e), the corresponding nonprovisional application must contain or be amended to contain a specific reference to the provisional application. For nonprovisional applications filed on or after September 16, 2012, the specific reference must be included in an application data sheet. Further, a claim under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) for the benefit of a prior provisional application must be filed during the pendency of the nonprovisional application, and within four months of the nonprovisional application filing date or within sixteen months of the provisional application filing date (whichever is later). See 37 CFR 1.78.
正式案與臨時案之間必須具明確關聯性，且在提出正式案時，須將該關聯性（臨時案之申請案號）記載於申請資料表中，亦即正式案之申請專利範圍必須為臨時案說明書之技術內容所支持。正式案之請求項若有臨時案所包含的權益（優先權等），應於臨時案有效期間，且在正式案申請四個月內或臨時案申請十六個月內（以較遲者為準）申請。
(主張優先權)
Once a provisional application is filed, an alternative to filing a corresponding nonprovisional application is to convert the provisional application to a nonprovisional application by filing a grantable petition under 37 C.F.R. 1.53(c)(3) requesting such a conversion within 12 months of the provisional application filing date.
Converting a provisional application into a nonprovisional application (versus filing a nonprovisional application claiming the benefit of the provisional application) will have a negative impact on patent term. The term of a patent issuing from a nonprovisional application resulting from the conversion of a provisional application will be measured from the original filing date of the provisional application. By filing a provisional application first, and then filing a corresponding nonprovisional application that references the provisional application within the 12-month provisional application pendency period, a patent term endpoint may be extended by as much as 12 months.
一旦申請臨時案，亦可在十二個月內申請請願將該臨時案轉成正式案，但這樣的做法會導致專利的專利權期間是以申請臨時案的日期起算。
(改請正式案)
PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT FILING DATE REQUIREMENTS
The provisional application must name all of the inventor(s). In view of the one-year grace period provided by 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) in conjunction with 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1), a provisional application can be filed up to 12 months following an inventor’s public disclosure of the invention. (Such a pre-filing disclosure, although protected in the United States, may preclude patenting in foreign countries.) A public disclosure (e.g., publication, public use, offer for sale) more than one year before the provisional application filing date would preclude patenting in the United States. Keep in mind that a publication, use, sale, or other activity only has to be made available to the public to qualify as a public disclosure.
臨時申請案需要列出所有發明者，且臨時申請案可在發明人公開揭露該發明後的 12 個月內提出申請。
A filing date will be accorded to a provisional application only when it contains a written description of the invention, complying with all requirements of 35 U.S.C. §112(a).
Although the application will be accorded a filing date regardless of whether any drawings are submitted, applicants are advised to file with the application any drawings necessary for the understanding of the invention, complying with 35 U.S.C. 113. A drawing necessary to understand the invention cannot be introduced into an application after the filing date because of the prohibition against new matter. Further, 37 CFR 1.53(c) prohibits amendments from being filed in provisional applications which are not required to comply with the patent statute and all applicable regulations.
建議申請人申請臨時案時提供圖式，作為理解發明所必需的圖式不可在申請日之後加入，亦不可修改臨時案的內容。
To be complete, a provisional application must also include the filing fee as set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(d) and a cover sheet* identifying:
the application as a provisional application for patent;
the name(s) of all inventors;
inventor residence(s);
title of the invention;
name and registration number of attorney or agent and docket number (if applicable);
correspondence address; and
any U.S. Government agency that has a property interest in the application.
* A cover sheet, form PTO/SB/16, pages 1 and 2, is available.
Note: The information in this brochure is general in nature and is not meant to substitute for advice provided by a patent practitioner. Applicants unfamiliar with the requirements of U.S. patent law and procedures should consult an attorney or agent registered to practice before the USPTO.
A list of attorneys and agents can be searched at the USPTO Website.
CAUTIONS
The benefits of the provisional application cannot be claimed if the 12 month deadline for filing a nonprovisional application has expired (unless the benefit of the provisional application has been restored under 37 CFR 1.78).
A provisional application cannot result in a U.S. patent unless one of the following two events occur within 12 months of the provisional application filing date:
a corresponding nonprovisional application for patent entitled to a filing date is filed that claims the benefit of the earlier filed provisional application (unless the benefit of the provisional application was restored under 37 CFR 1.78 in which case the nonprovisional application may be filed within 14 months from provisional application filing date); or
a grantable petition under 37 CFR 1.53(c)(3) to convert the provisional application into a nonprovisional application is filed.
臨時案申請後 12 個月內（或在特殊情況下 12 至 14 個月內）申請正式案。
Provisional applications for patent may not be filed for design inventions.
設計專利不得申請臨時案。
Provisional applications are not examined on their merits.
臨時專利沒有實質審查。
Provisional applications for patent cannot claim the benefit of a previously-filed application, either foreign or domestic.
It is recommended that the disclosure of the invention in the provisional application be as complete as possible.
In order to obtain the benefit of the filing date of a provisional application, the claimed subject matter in the later filed nonprovisional application must have support in the provisional application.
If there are multiple inventors, each inventor must be named in the application.
All inventor(s) named in the provisional application must have made a contribution, either jointly or individually, to the invention disclosed in the application.
臨時案的所有發明人均必須具名。
正式案的發明人至少必須有一位與臨時案一致，申請人則可以不同。
The nonprovisional application must have at least one inventor in common with the inventor(s) named in the provisional application to claim benefit of the provisional application filing date.
A provisional application must be entitled to a filing date and include the basic filing fee in order for a nonprovisional application to claim benefit of that provisional application.
There is a surcharge for filing the basic filing fee or the cover sheet on a date later than filing the provisional application.
Amendments are not permitted in provisional applications after filing, other than those to make the provisional application comply with applicable regulations.
No information disclosure statement may be filed in a provisional application.
FEATURES
Provides simplified filing with a lower initial investment with 12 months to assess the invention’s commercial potential before committing to higher cost of filing and prosecuting a nonprovisional application for patent.
Establishes official United States patent application filing date for the invention.
Permits authorized use of “Patent Pending” notice for 12 months in connection with the description of the invention.
Begins the Paris Convention priority year.
Enables immediate commercial promotion of invention with greater security against having the invention stolen.
Permits applicant(s) to obtain USPTO certified copies.
WARNINGS
A provisional application automatically becomes abandoned when its pendency period expires 12 months after the provisional application filing date by operation of law. Applicants must file a nonprovisional application claiming benefit of the earlier provisional application filing date in the USPTO before the provisional application pendency period expires in order to preserve any benefit from the provisional application filing (unless the benefit of the provisional application has been restored under 37 CFR 1.78).
Beware that an applicant who publicly discloses his or her invention (e.g., publishes, uses, sells, or otherwise makes available to the public) during the 12 month provisional application pendency period may lose more than the benefit of the provisional application filing date if the 12 month provisional application pendency period expires before a corresponding nonprovisional application is filed. Such an applicant may also lose the right to ever patent the invention. See 35 U.S.C. §§102(a)(1) and (b)(1).
若申請人在臨時案申請期間公開揭露發明，且在 12 個月內未申請相應的正式案，會導致申請人甚至無法對該發明申請專利。
By LL
♦ 源道募集LINE好友中，首次加入將獲得85折優惠卷
參考資料：https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics/types-patent-applications/provisional-application-patent