Original Application - "Original" is used in the patent statute and rules to refer to an application which is not a reissue application. An original application may be a first filing or a continuing application.

Parent Application - The term "parent" is applied to an earlier patent application of the inventor disclosing a given invention.

Patent - A property right granted by the Government of the United States of America to an inventor “to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States” for a limited time in exchange for public disclosure of the invention when the patent is granted.

Patent Application (See "Application")

Patent Infringement - Any unauthorized making, using, offering to sell, selling or importing into the United States any patented invention.

Patent Number - Unique number assigned to a patent application when it issues as a patent.

Patent Pending - A phrase that often appears on manufactured items. It means that someone has applied for a patent on an invention that is contained in the manufactured item. It serves as a warning that a patent may issue that would cover the item and that copiers should be careful because they might infringe if the patent issues. Once the patent issues, the patent owner will stop using the phrase "patent pending" and start using a phrase such as "covered by U.S. Patent Number XXXXXXX." Applying the patent pending phrase to an item when no patent application has been made can result in a fine.

Patentable - Suitable to be patented; entitled by law to be protected by the issuance of a patent.

Plant Patent Application - Applications to protect invented or discovered, asexually reproduced plant varieties.

Plant Patent - May be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.