Provisional Applications vs. Published Applications vs. Issued Patents
If you’re considering ordering a plaque to commemorate a patent, it’s important to understand the differences between the various numbers associated with a U.S. patent. Customers occasionally submit a number like “20200168786” when placing a plaque order. While this looks like a patent number, it actually refers to a published application—not an issued patent.
Unless a customer specifically wants a plaque that highlights their published application (which some inventors do for promotional purposes), we recommend waiting until the patent has been officially granted. If a submitted number corresponds to a non-issued application, we’ll typically advise the customer and offer a refund.
Here’s a quick overview of the four types of numbers associated with the U.S. patent process:
1. Provisional Patent Application Number
This is the number assigned to a provisional application, which is a lower-cost, informal document used to establish an early filing date. Often called a “provisional patent” (a misnomer), this type of application is not examined by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and does not result in an issued patent unless followed up by a formal application within 12 months. Provisional applications are not published and do not have any public-facing number used for plaque purposes.
2. Utility Patent Application Serial Number
When an inventor files a formal, non-provisional (or “utility”) patent application, it receives a serial number in a format like “15/828,765”. This is the application that will be examined by a USPTO patent examiner. If it was preceded by a provisional application, the utility filing may inherit the earlier filing date. However, this serial number is internal and is not typically used on plaques.
3. Published Patent Application Number
Unless the applicant requests non-publication, most utility patent applications are made publicly available 18 months after their earliest filing date. These are given publication numbers like “2020/0168786”. This marks a visible milestone and can be useful for marketing, fundraising, or showing progress—but a published application is not a granted patent and does not grant enforceable rights. In fact, many applications are published well before the USPTO begins substantive examination due to processing delays.
Some customers choose to commemorate a published application with a plaque, but most prefer to wait for the final issued patent.
4. Issued Patent Number
This is the number that matters most when ordering a plaque. Once the application is approved and the final government fees are paid, the USPTO grants an official patent and assigns a patent number such as “12,021,122”. Issued patent numbers are eight digits long (and growing), and represent a legally enforceable property right. This is the number we recommend using on your plaque—it’s the point of celebration and recognition.
In Summary
To avoid confusion, please double-check the number before ordering your plaque. If your number begins with “20” and contains a slash or is 11 digits long, it’s likely a published application, not an issued patent. When in doubt, we’re happy to help verify the number and advise you on whether it’s time to commemorate your achievement.
For most inventors and companies, the best time to order a patent plaque is after the patent has been officially granted.
