How to cite a patent
Bluebook (22d ed.) citation format · B14 / T1.2 · Regulations & agencies
T1.2: cite the patent number. The name, filing date and issuing date are added if relevant, and the pinpoint forms are unlike any other in the book.
Example
U.S. Patent No. 4,405,829.
More examples
Each of these is checked against the rules on every change to the tool.
- Cryptographic Commc’ns Sys. & Method, U.S. Patent No. 4,405,829 (filed Dec. 14, 1977) (issued Sep. 20, 1983).
- U.S. Patent No. 4,405,829, at [75] (filed Dec. 14, 1977).
- U.S. Patent No. 4,405,829 col. 2 l. 30 (filed Dec. 14, 1977).
- U.S. Patent No. 4,405,829 fig.3 (filed Dec. 14, 1977).
- U.S. Patent No. 4,405,829 fig.3, item 22 (filed Dec. 14, 1977).
What the citation needs
Required
- Patent number — The number that identifies the document in its series.
When they apply
- Patent name — The source’s name, as the rule for this type gives it.
- Filing date — The date the application was filed.
- Issuing date — The date the patent issued.
- Title-page field code — A specific field of the title page, printed in brackets: “, at [75]”.
- Column — “col. 2” — attaches with no comma.
- Line — Within the column: “col. 2 l. 30”.
- Figure — “fig.3” — no space after the period.
- Item within the figure — An item within the figure cited.
In a brief and in a law review
The Bluebook sets citations two ways: the Bluepages for court documents and legal memoranda, the Whitepages for law review footnotes. Here is the first example above as each one prints it, in its typeface.
Court documents (Bluepages)
U.S. Patent No. 4,405,829.
Law review footnotes (Whitepages)
U.S. Patent No. 4,405,829.
For this source the two are set the same way.
Governing rules
B14 / T1.2
- T1.2 — federal administrative and executive materials; the agency's own citation form governs where the table gives one.
Build this citation with the generator, check one you have already written, or paste a whole list of footnotes to check them in order.
Related source types
Regulations & agencies: