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Patents, basic patent law and the patent application.

There is a key juncture in the learning process where things "all of a sudden" start to make sense. This lesson will deliver you to that threshold and well beyond. Once you become conversant with patents, the fundamentals of patent law and the application you'll be on your way. In this lesson we'll read together, six simple patents. The corn dog, a doggie tv dinner, three on musical instruments (2 utility and 1 design) and one for a system and method for preventing ferns from freezing at nurseries during a cold snap. This last patent ties in a district court case and subsequent appeal also covered in this lesson.

Patents often contain technical words and phrases that the average person might not be aware of. For instance, one might ask, "what the heck is 60% shade cloth?". This term appears in the fern anti-freeze patent. Words and phrases like these won't trip you up because we explain them before going through the patent. Patents also contain "legal" words that appear designed specifically to derail "trespassers" (non-agents or non-patent lawyers). "Contemplates", also in the fern patent, is an example.

Below are the materials you'll receive with Lesson 1.

Drawings book for lesson 1 Text book for Lesson 1 Audio CD for Lesson 1

click to enlarge

A completed "corn dog" patent application of inventor Patricia N. Lessons. The corn dog is going to be our "R2D2". And everywhere patentlessons.com goes the corn dog will be there for continuity. Only the corn dog is the star not just some loveable, sometimes available, side kick. Provisional, utility, design, prosecution, divisional, continuation in part, PCT , EPO, infringement questions, EVERYWHERE.

R2D2 (Star Wars) Sick Supported Cornbread Batter Wrapped Weenie. (patentlessons.com)

The corn dog patent we include in lesson 1 is "ready to mail" and will include all the completed USPTO forms, including payment (either check or credit card) to the USPTO and a completed return postcard. We'll show you how to fill in and download these from the forms page at the USPTO plus other non-U.S. patent offices..

Also you'll receive a sealed envelop containing a 60 question test plus a writing and drawing assignment to return to us. Your assignment will be to complete a patent application on one of six simple devices. Your "application" will also include all the completed forms. We'll grade your exam and examine your assigned "patent" application project. We'll return your graded test and will also include possible suggestions regarding your writing and drawing assignments. The drawings may be done informally and completely freehand as with our example above. All Instructions are included.

Email questions are welcome during the course of your lessons and will be responded to promptly by one or more posse members. Phone interviews may also be scheduled. These can save time and frustration over back and forth emails.

At the end of this lesson and after receiving your graded test and returned writing and drawing assignment, you should be ready to start on at least one of your applications. About our tests and tests in general.

click here to →Order Lesson 1. Or use our mail order form

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