The invention patent protects the working principle and use of the invention. The period of validity of the invention patent is 20 years from the date when the applicant submits the patent application to the Patent Office.
On the other hand, American design patents protect the design of inventions. The period of validity of the design patent is 15 years from the date of authorization.
If the inventor wants to protect his invention through an invention patent and a design patent, he must submit two separate patent applications to the Patent Office: an invention patent protects the function of the invention, and a design patent protects the design of the invention.
Unless an application for accelerated examination is filed, it usually takes about 24 months for US invention patents to be granted. For appearance patents, it usually takes about 14 months to authorize. Expedited application for invention and appearance can be authorized within 6-12 months.
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