Obtain a Patent

• 1). Research your idea to make sure it has not already been patented. The United States Patent and Trademark Office hosts an exhaustive database on its website that you can access quite easily at uspto.gov/patents/process/search/index.jsp.
  
  
• 2). View the fee schedule for current fees, which include maintenance fees and other time table information for the patent process. The Web address is listed below in the Resources Section.
  
  
• 3). Identify the type of patent that fits your specific case. According the Patent and Trademark Office, there are three types of patents: Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof. Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture. Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.
  
  
• 4). Determine that your idea is unique and then can classify it in one of the three categories; apply for a patent. You can obtain the necessary paperwork directly from the United States Patent and Trademark Office website. You can apply as a "Registered eFiler" for "Enhanced filing, follow-on processing, saved submissions and more," or as an "Unregistered eFiler" for "Basic initial filing of patents." You can check the status of your application using a database on the website as well.
  
  
• 5). Finally, once you have obtained your patent, you will need to maintain it by paying fees which vary according to your patent. All the details are easily accessible on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website.