How to Cite a Patent in Chicago (17th edition)
Learn how to cite a patent or intellectual property filing in Chicago format (17th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
Chicago Bibliography Format
Here is the standard Chicago format for citing a patent in your bibliography:
Inventor Last Name, First Name. "Title of Patent." U.S. Patent XXXXXXX, filed Month Day, Year, and issued Month Day, Year.
Chicago Example for a Patent
A complete Chicago reference for a patent, formatted by the official Chicago CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Lindqvist, Erik. 2019. Automated bibliographic reference parser. United States Patent and Trademark Office Patent US 10,482,119 B2, issued November 19, 2019. https://patents.example.org/US10482119.
Matching in-text citation: (Lindqvist 2019)
Chicago In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Inventor Year)
Narrative
Inventor (Year) invented...
Key Chicago Formatting Rules
- Include the inventor, title, patent number, and dates filed and issued.
- Identify the patent office and country.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your patent.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Chicago (17th edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago requirements.
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