Free interactive example · For founders and inventors
One invention. A whole family of patent applications.
Explore how a single filing can lead to continuations and divisionals. Select a branch to understand what it represents,and what a founder can learn from it.
Explore the example ↓PATENT FAMILY EXPLORER
Explore the family tree
Each box is a separate illustrative application. The connecting lines show parent-child relationships. Select a box to reveal an explanation. All dates, statuses, and relationships below are invented for teaching purposes.
Selected application
Original filing
The original nonprovisional application contains the technical disclosure on which supported later continuation and divisional claims may rely. Its filing does not guarantee patent protection.
What a founder can learn
For founders: describe the implementation, alternatives, and variations with enough technical detail before filing.
5
Illustrative applications
2
Illustrative issued patents
2
Illustrative pending applications
Explore your options
What might your own patent roadmap look like?
Choose whether you have one invention, an evolving product, or several distinct inventions. Explore possible filing paths, compare cost scenarios, and print a planning report without sharing confidential details.
Build your free patent roadmap →Your free roadmap includes
- Illustrative filing paths
- Founder-focused drafting questions
- Editable cost scenarios
- Printable and shareable results
Try the full tool
Interactive Patent Portfolio Mapper
This is the actual Patent Portfolio Mapper application, preloaded with three fictional examples: a single-application invention, a software continuation family, and a family containing a divisional and a continuation-in-part. Select a family in the left panel to explore its diagram and recorded relationships.
For a larger workspace, open the full mapper in a new tab. This read-only educational demo uses fictional patent families. Saving, opening, importing, exporting, backups, and USPTO synchronization are not available here. No live patent status information is provided.
What this does,and doesn't,tell you
A family tree illustrates filing relationships, not the scope or strength of any patent. To assess actual rights, one must consider the claims, the supporting disclosures, prosecution histories, priority requirements, and current legal status.
A continuation generally cannot add new matter. A divisional may pursue a different invention disclosed in the parent. Neither is automatically warranted for every business.
Future enhancement
Explore actual patent families
The interactive demo below uses the existing Patent Portfolio Mapper with fictional records. A streamlined live lookup for public patent families is a possible future enhancement.
Read: From the first application to a portfolio →Planning your company's first patent filing?
PatentDrafters helps founders and small companies turn technical work into thoughtfully prepared applications. We can discuss your goals, timing, and what an engagement might involve.
Book a no-charge consultation →Please do not send confidential technical details before conflicts and an engagement are addressed.
This fictional demo is general educational information, not legal advice. It does not evaluate any actual patent family, provide filing deadlines, or establish an attorney-client relationship.