When citing a patent in academic or professional writing, it’s important to follow a consistent and recognized format. The example you provided is a common way to reference a patent in the English language. Let’s break down each component of this citation:
Citation Components
Authors’ Names: The names of the inventors are listed in the order they appear on the patent document. In this case, “Smith, J.” is the first author, followed by “Doe, J.”.
Year of Publication: The year in which the patent was granted is provided immediately after the authors’ names. In this example, the patent was granted in 2020.
Title of the Invention: The title of the patent is given next, enclosed in quotation marks. This is the specific name of the invention as it appears in the patent document. In this example, the title is “Title of the Invention.”
Patent Number: The patent number follows the title, indicating the unique identifier for the patent. This number is used for legal purposes and to easily locate the patent. In this example, the patent number is “US1234567A.”
Complete Citation
Putting it all together, the complete citation would look like this:
Smith, J., & Doe, J. (2020). “Title of the Invention.” Patent No. US1234567A.
Notes on the Format
- Comma Spacing: There is a comma followed by a space after the author’s names, the year, and the patent number.
- Capitalization: The title of the invention should be capitalized in the same manner as it appears in the patent document.
- Number Prefix: The prefix “US” indicates that this is a patent granted in the United States. Other countries might use different prefixes (e.g., “EP” for patents granted in Europe).
Usage in Academic Writing
When using this citation in an academic paper or report, it should be included in the reference list or bibliography at the end of the document. It is also common to use this citation in the body of the text where the patent is discussed or referenced.
For example:
Smith and Doe’s patent (2020) on the “Title of the Invention” introduces a novel approach to [insert context or field of application].
Always ensure that the citation is accurate and that you have access to the patent document itself for verification purposes.