“Patent pending” indicates that a patent application has been filed. You may see the phrase on a product, packaging, or a website while an application is being pursued.
What It Does Not Establish
The phrase does not show that the patent office has allowed any claim. It also does not tell you the application’s scope, which claims may survive examination, or whether a patent will issue.
An application and an issued patent are different records. An unpublished application may not be available to the public, even when a product carries the phrase.
Check the Available Record
When a publication or patent number is available, use it to find the corresponding document and status information. Avoid drawing a conclusion from packaging alone.
Keep Unpublished Information Private
Our forms accept only public identifiers. If an application is not public, omit its number and any invention details. To understand the filing options, read provisional vs. non-provisional applications.