Patents For Inventors - Your Questions Answered!
Chapter 9 - What is a "provisional patent application"?

Other chapters:

• Chapter 1 - What is a patent?
• Chapter 2 - What is "patent pending"?
• Chapter 3 - Are there different types of patents?
• Chapter 4 - How long do patents provide legal protection for the inventor?
• Chapter 5 - What are "maintenance fees"?
• Chapter 6 - Should I keep my invention secret?
• Chapter 7 - What is the "Paris Convention"?
• Chapter 8 - Are there time limits for filing a U.S. patent application?
• Chapter 9 - What is a "provisional patent application"?