Utility Patents may be granted to an inventor of any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof.
Design patents may be granted to an inventor of a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture.
Plant patents may be granted to an inventor who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.
Applications made for the above types of patents are known as non-provisional applications. A provisional application is a separate application which is shorter than a non-provisional application and which is essentially a tool to obtain an early filing date. (NOTE: We can refer you to a reputable Patent Firm that prepares provisional and non-provisional patent applications).