Cover machines, things made by machines, a method of doing something, a chemical, a DNA sequence, and/or products of genetic engineering. Utility patents are valid up to 20 years.

Cover the invention or discovery of new plant varieties, also for 20 years. Anyone want to work on a money tree?

Cover the appearance of a device, but not its function. For example, a design for the latest style of sunglasses can be patented. Design patents are valid for 14 years.

U.S. Patents only protect your invention in the U.S. You will need to apply for patents in other countries to protect your inventions worldwide.