The United States Patent and Trademark Office Bob Olszewski, Director TC 2900 United States Patent and Trademark Office

Patent Patent Definition A right granted by the government to an inventor to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale or selling the invention in the United States or importing the invention into the United States for a limited period of time. 5/3/20152

Patent Types of Patents –Utility Patents Term 20 years from Filing –Design Patents Term 14 years from the date of the Patent Grant –Plant Patents Term 20 years from Filing 5/3/20153

Utility Patent 5/3/20154

Utility Patent 5/3/20155

Design Patent 5/3/20156

Plant Patent 5/3/20157

Plant Patent 5/3/20158

9 Patent Examiners by Technical Discipline

Patent Statistics Over 500,000 patent applications filed in FY 2010 and FY 2011 Approximately 7,000 patent examiners Hiring goal of 1,500 new examiners for FY 2012 Average time from filing to first action is less than 24 months Fully fee funded organization 5/3/201510

5/3/ The Patent Process Allowance

5/3/ Inventor Cartoon

5/3/ Patent Examining Process 1. Read 2. Search 3. Determine Patentability 4. Communicate

5/3/ Patentability Subject Matter Eligibility under 35USC 101 Which permits Patents to “Any new and useful process, machine, manufacture or composition of matter, or any new useful improvement thereof” Novelty and Loss of Patent Rights under 35USC102 Non-Obvious under 35USC103

5/3/ You Be The Examiner!

5/3/ Potential Prior Art

5/3/ Potential Prior Art Reference A Reference B I work moving concrete blocks around. I wear gloves out frequently, but usually just the fingers. This is a simple idea. The extra finger stays beyond the pinky, and when a finger is worn out, take off the glove and put it on again, but this time with all the fingers in complete finger places. That way, if you wear out one finger, you don’t have to get a new glove. It could also come with a spare thumb. (schematics, 6/7/04)

5/3/ Thank You! Robert Olszewski Director, TC