What do the letters in front of the patent number mean?
Robert Guerrero
Updated on May 08, 2026
On many patent publication numbers, you'll find letters and numbers at the end of the string. These number/letter combinations signify where the patent document fits in the overall process; if it's a new application, second version, or so on.
Also to know is, what does B2 mean after a patent number?
The ABCs of Patent Kind Codes
| Kind Code | Kind of document |
|---|---|
| A2 | Second or subsequent publication of a Utility Patent Application |
| B1 | Utility Patent Grant (no pre-grant publication) issued on or after January 2, 2001 |
| B2 | Utility Patent Grant (with pre-grant publication) issued on or after January 2, 2001 |
| E | Reissue patent |
Also Know, what is on the front page of a patent? Patent Front Page Data
The bibliographic data on the front page of a patent document is identified by the use of INID codes in parentheses, brackets or circles. INID codes are defined under WIPO Standard ST. 9.
Correspondingly, how do you read a patent publication number?
In the United States, issued patents generally begin with "US." That is followed by the one-to-seven-digit patent number. The last part is a kind code. Each part is separated by a hyphen. A U.S. Design patent number starts with a "D" or the letters "Des."
Do patent numbers have letters?
16 codes (kind codes) include a letter, and in many cases a number, used to distinguish the kind of patent document (e.g., publication of an application for a utility patent (patent application publication), patent, plant patent application publication, plant patent, or design patent) and the level of publication (e.g.
Related Question Answers
What is the fastest way to read a patent?
How to Read a Patent Quickly- Skip the title since it can be vague. Also some titles, like "Wireless Camera," might only apply to specific features and not the entire camera or it may point to an improvement on a prior invention.
- Skip the drawings.
- Skip the abstract and the specification.
- Read the independent claims.
How do you read a US patent claim?
The claims are set forth as separately numbered paragraphs in a single-sentence format. The first claim of an issued patent is always numbered "1," with each claim thereafter following in an ascending numerical sequence.How do you read a patent classification?
A Patent Classification is a code which provides a method for categorizing the invention. Classification are typically expressed as "482/1". The first number, 482, represents the class of invention. The number following the slash is the subclass of invention within the class.What does a patent number look like?
A Patent Number is assigned by the USPTO. A patent number may include up to eight characters and is formatted as follows: Utility : Patent numbers consist of six, seven or eight digits. H Documents : (e.g., Hnnnnnnn , H0000001) must enter leading zeroes between "H" and number to create 7 digits.How do you patent something in the US?
Steps to Filing a Patent Application- Keep a Written Record of Your Invention. Record every step of the invention process in a notebook.
- Make Sure Your Invention Qualifies for Patent Protection.
- Assess the Commercial Potential of Your Invention.
- Conduct a Thorough Patent Search.
- Prepare and File an Application With the USPTO.
What are patent rights?
A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. In other words, patent protection means that the invention cannot be commercially made, used, distributed, imported, or sold by others without the patent owner's consent.What is the difference between a publication number and a patent number?
Patent number are six or seven digits long; application publication numbers are 11 digits long with the first four digits being the year of publication. In addition to having a publication number, applications (and patents) have an application number, which is 8 digits long.How do I find IPR?
Inter Partes Review Rules (37 CFR Ch. 42, Subpart B) To search for an IPR, click on the system link for PTAB E2E. Additional information is located on the PTAB E2E information page.How do you know if a patent is design or utility?
You can tell if a patent is a utility or design patent by looking at the patent number. If the patent number starts with a “D,†(ex. D91823) then it is a design patent, if the patent number is only comprised of numbers (ex. 8,029,027), then it is a utility patent.What is the difference between published and granted patent?
Granted patents essentially hand the creators and manufacturers of a protected work a monopoly over that work for a set period of time. Published patent applications for inventions do not give these rights to the creators of works, but simply say that the works might be protected in the future.Which of the following Cannot be patented?
As per the patent Act, the ethical, political, and scientific bases cannot be patented such as the Discovery of the new object, its scientific theory, and mathematical calculation. Discovery of a new form of substances which results in the enhancement of substances. Substances which produce by mixing two substances.What is the publication date of a patent?
The publication of a patent application marks the date at which it is publicly available and therefore at which it forms full prior art for other patent applications worldwide.Can you choose a patent number?
Since they are assigned by the U.S. Patent Office (USPTO), there is no discretion in assigning these numbers. When an application is initially filed, there is an option to ask the Patent Office to “not publish†the application.Why one should access the patent literature?
Patent literature is the goldmine of information. Q19 - Why one should access the patent literature? once the research is complete i.e. at the time of filing the patent application, to narrow down or broaden the claims and/or to draft the application for getting a patent.What are some examples of patents?
The Great Eight – Eight Wonders of the World of Patents- The Lightbulb. The electric lightbulb is perhaps one of the most famous patented inventions known to humankind.
- The Internal Combustion Engine.
- The Telephone.
- The Computer.
- Bluetooth.
- The Maglev.
- The FireEye Malware System.
- The Google PageRank.
How do you structure a patent?
A patent specification normally has the following parts in the order given: A title to identify the invention. A statement as to the field to which the invention relates. An explanation of the background “state of the art†– what was already known prior to the invention.What are the key parts of a patent?
Broadly, the typical patent consists of four main parts:- Front page(s)
- Drawings.
- Specification. A background section. A list of drawings. A detailed description.
- Claims.
What is a patent issue date?
Issue Date of Patent: The date that the patent was issued. This date is used to calculate the maintenance fees paid to keep the patent enforceable. For more information on the calculation of the patent term of a patent, please click here. 3. First Named Inventor.What are three criteria that must be met for an invention to be patentable?
Patent applications must satisfy the following three criteria:- Novelty. This means that your invention must not have been made public – not even by yourself – before the date of the application.
- Inventive step. This means that your product or process must be an inventive solution.
- Industrial applicability.
Which of these can you patent?
An invention can be patented if it has a useful purpose, has patentable subject matter, is novel, and is non-obvious. The patent could cover a composition, production process, machine, tool, new plant species, or an upgrade to an existing invention. Inventors must meet certain government guidelines to get a patent.Can machine be patented?
What Can Be Patented? Nearly anything can be patented. Machines, medicines, computer programs, articles made by machines, compositions, chemicals, biogenetic materials, and processes, can all be the subject matter for a United States patent.How do I trace a patent number?
If you know the patent number use either Google Patents or the USPTO website to find the patent. Enter the patent number without commas and when using the USPTO website the patent number must be seven numbers in length (add preceding zero's if necessary).Can you patent code?
In the United States software is patentable. Software patents are typically referred to as computer implemented processes. While source code may not be patentable, it does not mean that a software invention may not be patented.What was the patent number of toilet paper?
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,588, dated December 22, 1891.What does a plant patent protect?
The grant, which lasts for 20 years from the date of filing the application, protects the patent owner's right to exclude others from asexually reproducing the plant, and from using, offering for sale, or selling the plant so reproduced, or any of its parts, throughout the United States, or from importing the plant soWhat does A4 mean in patent?
Kind Codes| Code | Publication details |
|---|---|
| A3 | Later publication of ISR with revised front page |
| A4 | Later publication of amended claims and/or statement (Article 19) with revised front page |
| A8 | International application republished with corrections to front page bibliographic data |
