I want to apply for a design patent for a spoon, a fork, and a knife. In my understanding, one patent application is for a single item. However, my design is the same for all 3 utensils. In this case, should I apply for the design of a handle instead? Can I say, "ornamental design of the... View More 
answered on Sep 18, 2023
You should discuss with an IP attorney that has experience with design applications. That said, with proper usage of solid and dashed lines, it sounds like a single embodiment can cover all three designs, since ornamental feature is directed towards the handle. I'd recommend a different title,... View More
I want to apply for a design patent for a spoon, a fork, and a knife. In my understanding, one patent application is for a single item. However, my design is the same for all 3 utensils. In this case, should I apply for the design of a handle instead? Can I say, "ornamental design of the... View More
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answered on Sep 21, 2023
Yes, you can potentially apply for a single design patent that covers the ornamental design of the handle of the spoon, fork, and knife if they share the same design. In your patent application drawings, you should include images that clearly show the design elements of the handle and any... View More
answered on Jul 27, 2022
US patents are approved by the US Patent and Trademark Office. Period.
You may need other approvals from other agencies to make and use the product but they don't issue patents.
This happens all the time with pharmaceutical products. There is work to obtain patent protection... View More
Use of a technology currently used in the field of medicine to be put to use in another area. I would like to speak with someone about how to write claims and generally how to do the application.
answered on Mar 27, 2022
In order to write a patent, you really need specialized training. This is not something that you could do yourself. Legally, you are allowed to, but practically it is not feasible.
As far as taking a product, process or technology from medicine and applying it to another field, this is... View More
company employment states whatever is developed while employed belongs to the company. if they are going to sin off these patents/ideas or sell them as equity when selling the company, can there be anything in it for me?
answered on Dec 1, 2021
Based on what you have stated, it isn't likely that you have a legal right to any compensation. You begin your question by noting that "company employment states whatever is developed while employed belongs to the company...." This aspect of an employment agreement, coupled with... View More
answered on May 9, 2020
No.
The acceptance of a provisional patent application is a clerical matter. They just make sure that you submitted something and paid the fee. It is hard to not get a filing receipt for a provisional patent application.
To get a non-provisional patent application granted takes... View More
answered on May 9, 2020
It counts with respect to being able to say that you are patent pending. (at least for the year that it is pending)
It counts in that you can sell the product or otherwise publicly reveal the idea without losing absolute novelty that is needed in some patent systems. (at least for the... View More
If one wanted to use it within the title of their own work. Is this a patent, trademark, or copyright issue?
Our contract mentions
"conceives, creates, invents, designs, develops, contributes to or improves any works of authorship, inventions, materials, documents or other work product or other intellectual property, either alone or in conjunction with third parties, at any time during... View More
answered on Jan 7, 2020
This question comes up all the time. You will need to take the contract and employee manuals that deal with the duty to assign inventions to an attorney in the state where you work. There are some states that have limits on the scope of this mandatory assignment clause for employees.
It... View More
I want to know how you can help and fee
answered on Feb 22, 2019
Patent attorneys analyze an invention to determine if it is patentable (is allowable subject matter under Section 101, is novel under 102, and is non-obvious under 103). Drafting a patent application is very specific, especially the claims. A method claim in a utility patent may run between $3,000... View More
the uv ink gives the advantage of being able to remove the ink from the sub straight after exposure so that there is no ink on the final product
answered on Jan 31, 2019
The question is whether those of skill in the art looking at Pat. No. 9,726,971 and everything previously known in all public writings in all languages from the beginning of time would consider your modification of the process in 9726971 to be a non-obvious modification. Notice that the pool of... View More
Internet of things implementation infringement on this patent?
Publication number: 20040132530
answered on Sep 20, 2018
That publication number is a publication of Application No. 10/470,403, which was abandoned. This application never matured into a patent, so there cannot be any infringement of it.
Please refer to claim number 6
answered on May 20, 2018
Your question does not convey the relevant patent number. You may want to re-post the question with a reference to a specific patent number.
I hope this helps.
Kevin E Flynn
Application was submitted in 2012. Abandoned status in 2014. I noticed that the product has been manufactured in China and available to import.
answered on Mar 7, 2018
If an application is abandoned far enough back that it is not a situation where the response was lost in the mail (and may be revived), then you should check three things.
1) Sometimes when things are not going well, an applicant will file a continuation or a continuation-in-part and... View More
Multiple companies like Singer, Dritz and less well known companies sell sewing tape measures. How do they escape infringing on patents? Further, how can multiple companies sell retractable tape measures without infringing?
answered on Mar 5, 2018
There are a few options for how multiple companies sell a product when there is a patent for that product.
1) The patent has expired at the en of its normal term or early for failure to pay a maintenance fee. Once the patent is no longer in effect, companies are free to create a generic... View More
I invented the machine and a research-based protocol that is being used without my permission. Large company is now selling my machines and using my research to sell a machine designed by me.
answered on Feb 28, 2018
Well, I think that you are in luck. Patent litigation was typically not taken on a contingency basis, but after the NTP v RIM case, where the plaintiff attorney earned over $200 million on a $612M verdict, many more firms are looking at this. Typically, however, you should be ready to pay a... View More
my son took his step dads bebe gun tried to play with it. he tried to get it out of my sons hands and my son pulled the trigger and it shot my sons wrist and left a bruse/cut. the school asked my son wat happened and he told them a fib and said that rob had him hold a pumpkin while rob shot it but... View More
answered on Nov 9, 2017
He should retain defense counsel. That is a serious charge.
Call Ray Ferris in Roanoke.
answered on Oct 16, 2017
You've asked about an invention, which is covered by patents, but you posted your question under copyrights. Let me answer your question both ways.
COPYRIGHTS
If you are trying to protect something that is copyrightable, then the protection does not cost you anything. If you... View More
answered on Oct 11, 2017
For a short period of time, you can keep your idea a secret. This may not work forever as others may eventually come to the same solution for the same problem.
There is a pro bono program for inventors run at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. I have not used this program... View More
answered on Nov 22, 2016
Get a patent application filed before you talk to your client. Talk to a patent lawyer about it.
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