This page provides information on the types of patents and types of patent applications, and the examination process. A provisional patent application is a temporary patent application that you can file that establishes your filing date.Most importantly, patent applications must be filed within one year of the date an invention is publicly disclosed. A good place to start is Patent It Yourself: Your StepbyStep Guide to Filing at the U.S. Patent Office. Richard Harris has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. The first answer is that No, in most cases do not patent the invention yet. Often a provisional patent will do just fine, much cheaper and faster to market. Trading Academy is a leader in investing and stock trading education. Sign up for a class today to learn step-by-step strategies on how to trade smarter. Empower your law firm and improve efficiency with Filevine's AI-powered legal practice management software.