A utility patent is a patent that protects the functions and features of a new or improved—and useful—technology.

A utility patent prohibits other individuals or companies from making, using, selling, offering for sale, importing, or exporting the invention without authorization. Most of the time, the word “patent” is a reference to a utility patent.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues utility patents.

There are several ways to file a utility patent application in the US:

Direct Filed Application: This is the first patent application related to this invention.
From a Provisional Application: You can file a provisional patent application before filing a utility patent application. You must file the utility patent application within one year of the original filing date.
From a Foreign Application: You can file a patent application directly with another country. Within one year, you can file with the USPTO.
As a Divisional or Continuation Application: Once you have filed a first utility patent application, you can file one or more additional utility applications, covering different aspects of your invention. You can only change the claims.
As a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) Application: In this case, you file a first utility patent application, and then add/change text or drawings for the CIP application.
As a National-Stage Application: After filing an international application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), you enter the national stage of the application process by filing in the US.