Free Tool · Decoder
What does a patent number mean?
A patent number isn't random — it encodes the country, the type (utility, design, plant, reissue), the publication stage via its kind code, and roughly when it issued. Paste any number and we'll decode every part.
Protects how an invention works for 20 years from filing. The default, prefix-less numbering series.
- United States · Utility patent.
- Kind code B2: Granted patent — application was published first.
- Roughly 2009 by the patent-number timeline (approximate — not the official grant date).
The cheat sheet
Prefixes and kind codes.
US type prefixes
- (none) — Utility
- D — Design
- PP — Plant
- RE — Reissue
- H / T — Defensive publications (historic)
Common kind codes
- A1 — Published application
- B1 — Grant, no prior publication
- B2 — Grant, published first
- C1 — Reexamination certificate