How to File a Design Patent

I will show you the difference between a Design Patent and a “normal” patent or a Utility patent as they are called.

Basically a Design Patent is where you want to protect a specific design of your inventive idea. It could be the shape of the front of a car, the design of a chair. It is how it looks. It can be represented by line drawings.

How to File a Design Patent will require that you search the design patent database for designs that are in your field of interest. The video below shows you how to do this…

How to File a Design Patent will allow you to determine if you REALLY want the design patent process. It is likely that you should actually apply for a Utility Patent that is described in the Provisional Patent Video Course that talks about the Provisional Patent Application process. In that you will see how to patent your idea.

Below is a graphic showing a design patent # D224567 for a stringed musical instrument that is a novel and unique and easily recognizable design.

How to File a Design Patent is also shown on the USPTO website and it is pretty darn expensive. The provisional patent application only costs $65 but the design patent application can cost $300 once you pay your filing fees, search fees as seen from the USPTO Fee Page. Refer to Micro Entity status!

 How to File a Design Patent is usually done to cover the “packaging” of a patent or patent pending idea so that when the device comes out not only the inventive idea has a Utility Patent or a Provisional Patent Application it will also have a design patent. This is very handy if you want to make a new novel wine cork removal system that also has recognizable DESIGN features. You might have a novel method to remove the cork as well as a very easily identifiable “Look”. Perhaps it looks like a bird or whatever…