Patent Terms Glossary

USPTO

Definition:
United States Patent and Trademark Office, designation became effective April 3, 2000; a result of the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999.

ACH

Definition:
Automated Clearing House - a nationwide batch-oriented electronic funds transfer system governed by the NACHA (National Automated Clearing House Association)

Deceased Inventor

Definition:
A named inventor who has died prior to the filing of a patent application or during the prosecution of a patent application.

Patent

Definition:
A patent is a document that defines the right by law for inventors and assignees to make use of and exploit their inventions for a limited period of time.

File Wrapper

Definition:
The folder into which papers for a particular application are collected and maintained. It contains a complete record of proceedings in the USPTO from the filing of the initial patent application to the issued patent.

Serial Number

Definition:
A number assigned to a patent application when it is filed. A serial number is usually used together with a two digit series code to distinguish between applications filed at different times.

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