How to Cite a Patent in Chicago 17th Edition (Author-Date)

This guide explains how to format a patent citation in Chicago 17th Edition (Author-Date). Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a patent in Chicago 17th Edition (Author-Date):

Template

Inventor Last, First M. Year. Title of Patent. Country Patent No. x,xxx,xxx, filed Month Day, Year, and issued Month Day, Year. URL.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Johnson 2022)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Johnson, Lisa K. 2022. System and Method for Adaptive Neural Network Training. U.S. Patent No. 11,345,678, filed March 15, 2020, and issued May 31, 2022. https://patents.google.com/patent/US11345678B2.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the inventor(s)
List the inventor(s) using Last, First format. For multiple inventors, use "and" before the last inventor.
2
Add the year
Use the year the patent was issued (granted). Place it immediately after the inventor name, followed by a period.
3
Write the patent title
Italicize the patent title. Use headline-style capitalization.
4
Include the patent number and dates
Write the country and patent number. Include both the filing date and the issue date.
5
Add the URL
Provide the URL where the patent can be accessed (e.g., Google Patents, USPTO). End with a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Placing the year at the end instead of after the inventor name.
Using the filing date as the primary year instead of the issue date.
Omitting the patent number.
Forgetting to include the issuing country before the patent number.
Listing the assignee company instead of the inventor(s).

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use the filing date or issue date as the primary year?

Use the issue (grant) date as the year in the citation. The filing date is supplementary information included in the full reference.

How do I cite a pending patent application?

Use the filing date as the year and note that it is an application: Johnson, Lisa K. 2020. Title. U.S. Patent Application No. 16/123,456, filed March 15, 2020.

Do I include both filing and issue dates?

Yes. Chicago style recommends including both dates for completeness: filed Month Day, Year, and issued Month Day, Year.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your patent:

Inventor
Title
Patent Number
Country
Filing Date
Issue Date

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Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the inventor(s)

List the inventor(s) using Last, First format. For multiple inventors, use "and" before the last inventor.

Add the year

Use the year the patent was issued (granted). Place it immediately after the inventor name, followed by a period.

Write the patent title

Italicize the patent title. Use headline-style capitalization.

Include the patent number and dates

Write the country and patent number. Include both the filing date and the issue date.

Add the URL

Provide the URL where the patent can be accessed (e.g., Google Patents, USPTO). End with a period.