How does the USPTO define different types of patent applications?

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) defines different types of patent applications in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). Specifically:

• National application, Provisional application, and Nonprovisional application are defined in 37 CFR 1.9(a)
• International application is defined in 37 CFR 1.9(b)
• International design application is defined in 37 CFR 1.9(n)

These definitions provide the legal basis for understanding the different types of applications that can be filed with the USPTO. For more detailed explanations and context, refer to MPEP § 201, which provides comprehensive guidance on types and status of applications.

To learn more:

• patent application types
• USPTO definitions
• CFR
• MPEP