This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting 37 CFR § 1.7, including 56 rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Summary

37 CFR 1.7 provides critical guidelines for managing patent application deadlines when the final day falls on a weekend, federal holiday, or during an official USPTO closure.

What this section covers

• Explains how the USPTO calculates time periods for patent-related actions and deadlines.
• Defines how Saturday and federal holiday closures impact filing and response timelines.

Key obligations

• Ensure compliance with USPTO time calculation rules when submitting patent-related documents.
• Recognize that when a deadline falls on a Saturday, the next business day becomes the official deadline.
• Understand that federal holidays and official USPTO closures extend filing deadlines.

Conditions and exceptions

• Identify special circumstances that might modify standard deadline calculations.

Practice notes

• Use Priority Mail Express or certificate of mailing to document timely submissions.
• Carefully track and verify deadlines to prevent unintentional missed filing windows.

Related Provisions

• 35 U.S.C. § 21
• 37 CFR § 1.10
• 37 CFR § 1.8
• 37 CFR § 1.6
• 37 CFR § 1.97

Based on MPEP Last Modified: 10/30/2024 08:50:22