38 CFR § 1.660 - Expeditious handling.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t38/s1.660"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "38 CFR § 1.660 - Expeditious handling."
title_number: 38
title_name: "Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief"
section_number: "1.660"
section_name: "Expeditious handling."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS"
part_number: "1"
part_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "38 U.S.C. 501, and as noted in specific sections."
cfr_part: "1"
---
# 1.660 Expeditious handling.
No patent may be granted where the invention has been in public use or publicly disclosed for more than one year before filing of a patent application. Hence, submissions involving inventions should be made as promptly as possible in order to avoid delay which might jeopardize title to the invention or impair the rights of the inventor or the Government.
[61 FR 29659, June 12, 1996]