What are the different types of patents?

Patents can be broadly classified into 3 types: Design, Utility and Plant.

• A Design patent protects the unique look/appearance of a functional item (e.g. original bottle for Coca-Cola, appearance of iPhone, Oakley sunglasses).
• A Utility patent covers the creation of a new or improved product, process, or machine which is useful.
• A Plant Patent protects asexually produced distinct plant varieties which cannot be propagated by tuber or discovered in an uncultivated state.