Interested in filing a patent? Our team of experienced attorneys and patent agent are here to help.Our San Diego patent attorney is an expert in patent law and litigation. We offer a free consultation for your initial case review. This page provides information on the types of patents and types of patent applications, and the examination process. There are two types of patent applications – Design Patent Applications and Utility Patent Applications. A Design Patent protects the way a device looks. We recommend that you complete the previous sessions in the series, Part I: IP basics and Part IV: Learn how to draft your patent application, before attending. Patents are public documents and are accessible via a wide range of online databases. There are a few things to know about patents before you search.