Provisional patent application example
Contents
A provisional patent application is the simplest way to get a US filing date on an invention. It isn't examined, it expires after 12 months, and it doesn't have to include claims. What counts is how well it describes the invention, because a later full application can only rely on what the provisional actually discloses.
Below is a complete synthetic example for an everyday invention, with a note after each section explaining what that section does. The invention is made up for illustration. It is not a filed application and not based on anyone's real work.
What a provisional application contains
- A cover sheet identifying the inventors and the title (a USPTO form, not shown here).
- A specification: the written description of the invention. This is the part that matters most.
- Drawings, where needed to understand the invention. This example is written to be understood without them.
- Claims (optional). Many drafters include at least one, because writing a claim forces clarity about what the invention actually is.
The example
UNITED STATES PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
SELF-DRAINING DISH RACK
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]The present disclosure relates to kitchen storage, and more particularly to a dish rack that directs rinse water from washed items into a sink.
BACKGROUND
[0002]Conventional dish racks collect water in a removable tray that must be emptied by hand. Standing water in the tray can spill when the tray is lifted, and water left in the tray can leave residue.
SUMMARY
[0003]A dish rack includes a frame, a drip tray sloped toward an outlet, and a spout that pivots to extend over the edge of a sink. Water that falls from washed items runs along the tray and out through the spout.
[0004]Folding the spout back stows it within the footprint of the tray, so the rack can also sit away from a sink.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0005]The frame holds plates upright between parallel wires and holds cups on a raised shelf. The frame rests on the drip tray.
[0006]The drip tray slopes from its back edge toward an outlet at its front edge. In some embodiments the slope is between two and five degrees. In other embodiments the tray includes shallow channels that lead to the outlet.
[0007]The spout is attached at the outlet by a hinge. In a deployed position the spout extends beyond the front edge of the tray. In a stowed position the spout lies within the footprint of the tray. In some embodiments the spout is removable for cleaning.
[0008]The tray, frame and spout may be formed of plastic, coated steel or stainless steel.
What is claimed is:
1. A dish rack comprising: a frame configured to hold washed items; a drip tray supporting the frame and sloped toward an outlet; and a spout pivotally attached at the outlet and movable between a deployed position extending beyond an edge of the drip tray and a stowed position within a footprint of the drip tray.
2. The dish rack of claim 1, wherein the drip tray slopes between two and five degrees toward the outlet.
3. The dish rack of claim 1, wherein the spout is removable from the outlet.
Common gaps in provisional applications
- Describing only one version. Alternatives in the description give a later application room.
- Skipping how parts connect. A list of parts is not a description of how the invention works.
- Leaving out the hard detail. A filing date covers only what the provisional actually discloses.
See a full draft
The PatentAgents.ai sample draft shows a complete synthetic application, from title to claims, with no account needed.
This example is synthetic and for illustration only. PatentAgents.ai is drafting software, not a law firm, and does not give legal advice.
Last reviewed: November 3, 2026.