The purpose of this guide is to provide you with basic information about filing a utility patent application with the USPTO. Provides outreach and education for independent inventors who file patent applications without the assistance of a registered patent attorney orThis tutorial will focus on patents and the process for securing a patent in the U.S. First, let's consider why we have a patent system? If an invention has been described in writing in a patent or other printed publication, it is NOT con-. A patent protects any device, substance, method or process that is new, inventive and useful.