how do utility patents differ from other patents 
utility patents are for products processes or machines that are new or improved and they represent more than 90 of patents granted by the uspto 8 among other types of patents are design patents which are drawings of a design with only minimal text it s even possible to patent a plant that you have discovered or created can you search for existing patents the uspto s patent public search option allows users to see what patents might already exist searches can be filtered by keywords and other descriptions 10