Patent Continuation

Factual Questions
1

I just got a patent for something I did when I worked at a company several years ago. The description for this one says

The title of the patent is the same as the previous one.

I haven’t been in touch with the company for a while, so this is all just stuff done by lawyers without them needing anything from me. A similar thing occurred with another patent, and I think I might even have three separate patents all with the same title.

What does it mean to be “a continuation of prior U.S. application… (now U.S. Pat. No…)”?

If I list my patents on my resume should I put them all down separately?

In an interview should I say I have XX patents if a pair of two and a group of three have the same title? Or should I say I have XX-3?

I don’t want to over or under sell myself.

2

I’m unclear on the difference between a Continuation and a Continuation-in-Part, but I had some of the latter. As explained to me, the main advantage of a C-I-P rather than a new patent is that the cost and complexity of filing is reduced. The main disadvantage is the term of protection: a C-I-P filed 5 years after a 17-year patent was issued will only have a term of 12 years.

I don’t list the C-I-P’s as separate patents: if they weren’t good enough for a new patent application; they’re not good enough for my resume. :wink:

3

That makes perfect sense.