A provisional utility patent application provides certain benefits:
- Allows you to file without a formal patent claim, oath or declaration, or any information disclosure (prior art) statement
- Potentially establishes an earlier effective filing date
- Is filed with a lower initial cost
Please note, a provisional application can only result in a U.S. patent if, within 12 months from the provisional application's filing date, a nonprovisional application for patent is filed or if a grantable petition to convert the provisional application into a nonprovisional application is filed. See the USPTO's Provisional Application for Patent for more details.
