Utility, Design, and Plant Patents There are three types of patents:

Utility, Design, and Plant Patents
There are three types of patents:
• Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new
and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter,
or any new and useful improvement thereof. Inventors of the proverbial
"better mousetrap," seek utility patents.
• Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and
ornamental design for an article of manufacture. For example, if you design
an ornamental telephone that in no way improves or changes the basic
function of the telephone, you might seek a design patent.
• Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and
asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.