Discover pathways to file a patent without fees, including government grants and pro bono services. The Roadmap to Your Free Patent Filing.This page provides information on the types of patents and types of patent applications, and the examination process. The first step in filing for a patent is to submit an application to the USPTO. A provisional patent application allows you to file without a formal patent claim, oath or declaration, or any information disclosure (prior art) statement. As stated in the request that led to this report, patents are "the lifeblood of innovation.