Share sketches or photos
Send product photos, sketches, renders, or concept images so PatentZoom can review the design you want protected.
Design Patent Application
Apply for 15 years of design patent rights. Filed by licensed patent attorneys and agents. Fixed fees.
Protect your intellectual property rights today.
Design Patent Application Process
Discuss with a practitioner
Talk through what makes the design distinctive, whether a design patent is the right fit, and how it compares with utility coverage.
Prepare design-ready drawings
We convert the design into patent-acceptable drawing views that support a cleaner filing package.
File the application
The design patent application is assembled and filed with the USPTO to secure pending status around the appearance of the invention.
Build toward issued rights
If approved by the USPTO, the design can receive long-term protection over how the invention looks.
Design Patent Application
Design patent filing
$990
+$260 Govt Fee*
- "Patent Pending" status for the shape of your invention
- Up to 7 professional patent drawings across the required design views
- Fully prepared design patent application with drawings, figure descriptions, preamble, and claim
*$260 Govt Fee assumes micro-entity status. Pricing is temporary for layout review and can be refined once final PatentZoom packaging is approved.
Design vs. Utility Patents
Design Patent
Utility Patent
Protects how the invention looks and the shape users see.
Protects how the invention works and how it is put together.
Focuses on the exterior visual design rather than internal function.
Focuses on functional features, operation, and technical structure.
May not stop copies that use a different appearance.
Can protect the functional invention even when the exterior shape changes.
All Plans Include
Consultation with a licensed practitioner
Ask legal questions about the design patent process and get guidance before the application is finalized.
"Patent Pending" status
Once filed, the invention can move into pending status while the design application is under review.
Live team Monday-Friday
Get support by phone or email during the work week when design, drawing, or filing questions come up.
Design patent drawings
Drawing views are prepared to show the design's depth, contours, and shape in a patent-acceptable format.
Design patent specifications
The application includes the design-focused written components needed to complete the filing package.
Government receipt
Receive official USPTO confirmation showing that the design patent application was accepted for filing.
Well suited for appearance-driven products
Consumer products
Packaging and accessories
Hardware exteriors
Branded physical designs
When appearance is part of the product advantage
Placeholder review copy for the rollout. Final PatentZoom testimonials can replace these later without changing layout.
“For products where look and form matter, the page makes the design-patent path feel much easier to understand.”
Founder scenario 1
“This is a much stronger presentation for design protection than a generic service page because it explains what is actually being protected.”
Founder scenario 2
“The single-package structure feels cleaner here and helps users move faster into the right consultation.”
Founder scenario 3
15 years
Protection focused on how the invention looks
A design patent can be a strong fit when product shape, form, or visual identity carries real market value and needs protection beyond brand messaging alone.
Book a design patent consultationPatent Search
Should you request a patent search before filing?
Some teams should go straight to design filing. Others may benefit from understanding adjacent products and prior art first. PatentZoom can help choose the right order.
Ask about patent searchKnowledge Center
Read practical guidance on design protection, patent timing, prosecution, and how design patents compare with utility filings.
When to file, and when not to
Timing decisions shape patent value. Filing too early or too late can both create risk.
How patents affect valuation
A stronger IP narrative can influence diligence, investor confidence, and long-term leverage.
Common IP mistakes funded startups make
Founders move fast. The wrong sequence or weak claims can create avoidable risk later.
Talk with PatentZoom about protecting product design
If the visual form of the product matters to brand value, market recognition, or copycat risk, the next step should be a clear conversation about whether design filing, utility filing, or both make sense.
Why this page is built this way
This service page is designed to make design patent applicationfeel clearer, more professional, and easier to act on than the older WordPress-style layout. Once approved, the same structure can be rolled out across the rest of PatentZoom's service pages.