The USPTO assigns series code prefixes to patent application serial numbers in order to distinguish between the various types of applications and proceedings. Utility and plant patent applications are assigned numbers ranging from 1 through 999,999. The number 10/100,000 indicates the one hundred thousandth application filed in series 10, which was used from October 24, 2001 through June 30, 2005.
Design patent applications were assigned serial numbers in the same series as utility patent applications from 1882 through 1921 and 1971 through 1992.
Table 1. USPTO Series Codes, 1925-present
| Code | Years |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jan. 1, 1925 – Dec. 31, 1934 |
| 2 | Jan. 1, 1935 – Dec. 31, 1947 |
| 3 | Jan. 1, 1948 – Dec. 31, 1959 |
| 4 | Jan. 1, 1960 – Dec. 31, 1969 |
| 5 | Jan. 1, 1970 – Dec. 31, 1978 |
| 6 | Jan. 1, 1979 – Dec. 31, 1986 |
| 7 | Jan. 1, 1987 – Dec. 31, 1992 |
| 8 | Jan. 1, 1993 – Dec. 31, 1997 |
| 9 | Jan. 1, 1998 – Nov. 30, 2001 |
| 10 | Oct. 24, 2001 – June 30, 2005 |
| 11 | Dec. 1, 2004 – Dec. 1, 2007 |
| 12 | Dec. 6, 2007 – Mar. 2011 |
| 13 | Dec. 2010 – Aug. 2013 |
| 14 | Aug. 2013 – present |
| 29 | Design applications, Oct. 1, 1992 – present |
| 60 | Provisional applications, June 8, 1995 – Dec. 2007 |
| 61 | Provisional applications, Dec. 2007 – ? |
| 62 | Provisional applications, ? – present |
| 90 | Reexamination proceedings (ex parte), 1981 – present |
| 95 | Reexamination proceedings (inter partes), 2001 – present |
| 96 | Supplemental reexamination proceedings, 2013 – present |
