How to Cite a Patent in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography)

This guide explains how to format a patent citation in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography). 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 (Notes-Bibliography):

Template

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

1. Lisa K. Johnson, System and Method for Adaptive Neural Network Training, U.S. Patent No. 11,345,678, filed March 10, 2020, and issued June 15, 2022.

Bibliography Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your bibliography:

Bibliography entry

Johnson, Lisa K. System and Method for Adaptive Neural Network Training. U.S. Patent No. 11,345,678, filed March 10, 2020, and issued June 15, 2022. https://patents.google.com/patent/US11345678B2.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the inventor(s)
List the inventor(s). In notes, use first name then last name. In bibliography, invert the first inventor's name.
2
Write the patent title
Italicize the title of the patent. Use headline-style capitalization.
3
Add the patent number
Include the country designation and full patent number (e.g., U.S. Patent No. 11,345,678).
4
Include both dates
Chicago requires both the filing date and the issue date. Use the format "filed Month Day, Year, and issued Month Day, Year."
5
Add the URL
Include the URL to the patent record. End with a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not italicizing the patent title.
Omitting either the filing date or the issue date — Chicago includes both.
Forgetting to include the country designation with the patent number.
Listing the assignee company instead of the inventor.
Not including the URL for the patent record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Chicago require both the filing date and issue date?

Yes. Chicago style includes both dates for patents. This distinguishes it from APA (issue date only) and provides a complete record of the patent's timeline.

How do I cite a patent application that has not been granted?

Use the same format but note it as a patent application: U.S. Patent Application No. 16/123,456, filed March 10, 2020. Omit the issue date since the patent has not been granted.

How do I handle patents with multiple inventors?

In notes, list all inventors in normal order separated by commas. In bibliography, invert only the first inventor. Use "et al." for four or more inventors in notes.

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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Format Template

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

Template

Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the inventor(s)

List the inventor(s). In notes, use first name then last name. In bibliography, invert the first inventor's name.

Write the patent title

Italicize the title of the patent. Use headline-style capitalization.

Add the patent number

Include the country designation and full patent number (e.g., U.S. Patent No. 11,345,678).

Include both dates

Chicago requires both the filing date and the issue date. Use the format "filed Month Day, Year, and issued Month Day, Year."

Add the URL

Include the URL to the patent record. End with a period.