Legal Definitions - file-wrapper continuation application

A file-wrapper continuationapplication is a type of patent application that is filed to continue the prosecution of a previously filed patent application. It is used when an applicant wants to add new claims or make amendments to the original application.

There are two types of file-wrapper continuation applications:

1. Continuation: This type of application is filed when an applicant wants to continue the prosecution of the original application without making any changes to the claims.
2. Continuation-in-part: This type of application is filed when an applicant wants to add new claims or make amendments to the original application.

For example, if a company filed a patent application for a new type of smartphone and later came up with additional features for the phone, they could file a continuation-in-part application to add those features to the original application. This would allow them to continue the prosecution of the patent application while also protecting the new features they have developed.