If the design of a style is only for aesthetic purposes, you can only apply for a patent for appearance design. The definition of appearance design is a new design with aesthetic feeling and suitable for industrial application made by the shape, pattern or their combination of products and the combination of color, shape and pattern.
It is only suitable for industrial applications and excludes pure works of art. For example, you can't just get a statue and apply for a design patent. However, clothing can be re-produced and sold, and it is possible to apply for a design patent.
If the design of the pattern has other uses (such as convenient storage of other items, folding, etc.). ), you can apply for invention patents (clothing or clothing products manufacturing methods) and utility model patents (shape and structure).
Patent application process:
1. Confirm the type of patent application.
2. Search for the same type of patent, you can search independently, or you can entrust an agency to conduct a more comprehensive search.
3. Prepare the application documents and submit them to the application step.
4. get the admission notice.
5. Preliminary review. (In the case of an application for a patent for invention, the application for a patent for invention must be examined in a confidential manner before preliminary examination. If confidentiality is required, it shall be handled in accordance with the confidentiality procedures.
6. Publishing stage (especially invention patent application).
7. Substantive examination (especially invention patents). To conduct a comprehensive review of whether the patent application is novel, creative, practical and other substantive conditions stipulated in the patent law.
8. Authorization stage. After the utility model and design pass the fifth step of examination, they can directly enter the authorization stage.
The following materials are required to apply for a patent.
1. To apply for a patent for invention, the application documents shall include: the request for a patent for invention, the abstract, the appended drawings of the abstract (if applicable), the specification, the claims and the appended drawings of the specification (if applicable) in duplicate.
2. To apply for a patent for utility model, the application documents shall include: the request for a patent for utility model, the abstract, the appended drawings of the abstract (if applicable), the specification, the claims and the appended drawings of the specification in duplicate.
3. To apply for a patent for design, the application documents shall include: a request for a patent for design, pictures or photographs (color pictures or photographs shall be submitted if color protection is required) and a brief description of the design in duplicate. If pictures are submitted, two copies shall be pictures; If photos are submitted, two copies are photos, and pictures or photos shall not be mixed.