Issue Years and Patent Numbers

Table of Issue Years and Patent Numbers, for Patents Issued Since 1836 (*) -- by selected document type (***)

(*) The current patent numbering system began with a patent issued on July 13, 1836. Prior to that date, 9,957 patents had been issued. The user should note that the data in this table have been checked but that it may still not be completely devoid of errors.

Numbers, as displayed in the table, are 7 characters with the numeric portion padded with leading zeroes where necessary.

Note that some numbers within a series may be unused. Therefore, the number of patents granted during a year cannot be determined by simply subtracting the number of the first patent issued in one year from the number of the first patent issued in the next year.

(**) Reissue patents were not separately numbered until 1838

(***) Defensive Publications and Improvement (AI) patents are not included in this table.

A detailed Technology Assessment and Forecast Program report, titled Issue Dates and Patent Numbers Since 1836, may also be of interest. However, this report requires an Adobe Acrobat viewer for viewing and printing.

Questions regarding this report should be directed to:
(address as of 6/98)

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Office of Electronic Information Products
Technology Assessment and Forecast Program
PK3-Suite 441
Washington, DC 20231

tel (703) 306-2600
FAX (703) 306-2737

Last Update: 7/08/98
Name: USPTO -- OEIP / TAF Program