What are the meanings of the patent document symbols?

Patent document symbols are the two-letter designations used to identify patent documents in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Each symbol includes an alphabetic character and a digit, and each symbol has a distinct meaning. In Colorado, the symbols are used as part of a patent application or during a patent search. For example, the symbol “R” is used to designate a patent document as a reissue of a previously granted patent. This means that the document has been amended or corrected in some way from the original patent. The symbol “A” is used to designate a patent application. This means that the patent document is an application for a patent, rather than a previously granted patent. The symbol “D” is used to designate a design patent document, which is a patent issued on the ornamental design of a functional article. For example, a D-symbol patent may protect the design of a specific type of chair, rather than the function of it. The symbol “T” is used to designate a trademark and service mark document, which is a legal protection granted to to a brand name, logo, or slogan. The symbol “X” is used to designate a reexamination document, which is an amendment or correction of an existing reissue patent. The symbols are important because they allow patent office staff to quickly identify the type of document and its related information. It is also important for inventors or patent searchers to correctly identify the patent document symbols in order to more quickly access information pertaining to a specific patent or application.

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What are the meanings of the patent document symbols?

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