Patent Terms Glossary

Chapter I

Definition:
The first, mandatory phase under the Patent Cooperation Treaty that includes performance of an international-type search, issuance of an International Search Report.

Joint Application

Definition:
An application in which the invention is presented as that of two or more persons.

Contracting State

Definition:
A national Office or an intergovernmental organization which is party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty.

Provisional Patent Application

Definition:
A provisional application for patent is a U. S. national application for patent filed in the USPTO under 35 U.S.C. § 111(b). It allows filing without a formal patent claim, oath or declaration, or any information disclosure (prior art) statement.

Disclosure Document

Definition:
A document disclosing an invention, and signed by the inventor or inventors, that is forwarded to the USPTO only as evidence of the date of conception of the invention.

Divisional Application

Definition:
A later application for an independent or distinct invention disclosing and claiming (only a portion of and) only subject matter disclosed in the earlier or parent application.

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