• A patent grants an inventor the exclusive right to produce, market and distribute any new invention that meets the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) guidelines. Applying for a patent can offer inventors a solid competitive advantage, but the process of obtaining a patent can involve a significant amount of paperwork. Common types of patent documents include application forms, product specifications and disclosure forms.
  
  

Application Forms

• Inventors must submit an application form for each patentable item via mail or online. The application form requires such information as the name of the invention, the application filing date, personal information related to the inventor and an authorization to permit international patent agencies to review the information.
  
  Inventors must also attach an oath of original conception, signed before a notary public, with all patent applications. The oath must state that the inventor believes himself to be the original inventor of the patentable item and the date that the invention was finalized.
  
  

Disclosure Documents

• As an inventor, you have the ability to send the USPTO a document that discloses the fact you have created an invention for which you intend to file a patent at some time in the near future. The patent office will hold this document for two years as evidence of the invention's conception date and original inventor. The USPTO's acceptance of disclosure documents create a reliable alternative to the traditional "poor man's patent," which requires an inventor to send a disclosure to himself via certified mail and is generally not acceptable as evidence of original conception.
  
  

Technical Specifications and Detailed Descriptions

• Among the most vital types of patent documents are the narrative description and the technical schematics of the invention. Inventions must be described and presented in great detail to allow the patent office to determine whether the invention is novel enough to meet the qualifications for new patent issuance. According to uspto.gov, scale models or large diagrams may also be used to fulfill this requirement.
  
  Extensive requirements related to the quality, size and types of technical schematics and photographs are included in USPTO standard 1.84.
  
  

Other Forms

• There are a large number of additional forms used during the patent application or renewal process, facilitating nearly every action taken along the way. Additional documents include fee transmittal forms, forms for change of address or other personal information, decision appeal forms and petitions for additional time in the application process. Follow the link at the end of this article to find a list of all forms required by the USPTO.