# Patents and Provisional applications ... am I just stupid? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 27, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patents-and-provisional-applications-am-i-just-stupid/177742 "2003-05-27T12:21:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patents-and-provisional-applications-am-i-just-stupid/177742/1 "2003-05-27T12:21:12Z")
I’ve searched the USpatent website, I’m working my way through yet another book on the subject (from NOLO press) … I already read one patent book a few years back which was very useless … I don’t get the fundamental differences in what I need to submit between an actual patnet application and a provisional patent application, other than the money I send in, a cover sheet difference, and the fact that the drawings don’t have to be fantastic. Is there any kind of point by point comparison out there of the two that I could reference so I can skip over the stuff that doesn’t have to be perfect and done _right now_ so I can get the provisional applications in and then take the year I need to get the full application completed? If it matters, I’m patenting machines and the processes for using them. ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patents-and-provisional-applications-am-i-just-stupid/177742/2 "2003-05-27T13:06:20Z")
I was interested, so I plugged “provisional patent application” into google and got the answer in the first hit. Since it’s too early in the morning to be pedantic, here’s the link: [http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/provapp.htm](http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/provapp.htm) ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patents-and-provisional-applications-am-i-just-stupid/177742/3 "2003-05-27T13:16:47Z")
Note that my link above does not include the requested point-by-point comparison, but it does describe the provisional application requirements in detail so it adequately answered my own curiosity. Below are some links with more direct comparison (from the same google search). [http://www.patentservices.com/provisional\_apps.html](http://www.patentservices.com/provisional_apps.html) [http://www.bpmlegal.com/provapp.html](http://www.bpmlegal.com/provapp.html) > **[PatentWizard - Neustel Software](https://www.neustelsoftware.com/patentwizard/)** > > PatentWizard BUY NOW! Create an Unlimited Amount of Provisional Applications There are no restrictions on how many provisional applications you can create withPatentWizard. Advanced Help Section Each section of PatentWizard provides you with help... ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patents-and-provisional-applications-am-i-just-stupid/177742/4 "2003-05-27T14:01:49Z")
It sounds, going by this link: [http://www.bpmlegal.com/provapp.html#3](http://www.bpmlegal.com/provapp.html#3) That it is a lot less strict than I imagined. The other part of this is that i’ve been breaking my neck researching and filling out the whole appplication (using software ‘designed’ for patent application filing) that is supposed to also help me do provis apps but doesn’t say how. Sounds more like a software/documentation problem ;). But I’ve been reading the USPTO site, as you referenced as well, bit it’s nice to see something more in plain english (as I linked from your link). Thanks.