How do I cite a patent?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook.

To cite a patent, follow the MLA format template. List the owner of the patent in the “Author” slot, the title of the patent or a description in the “Title of source” slot, the number of the patent, the name of the agency issuing the patent in the “Publisher” slot, and the date of issue in the “Publication date” slot:

Neustel, Michael S. Patent analyzing system. US 20140200880 A1, United States Patent and Trademark Office, 17 July 2014.

If you found the patent online, include the title of the website as the title of the second container and provide the URL as the location:

Neustel, Michael S. Patent analyzing system. US 20140200880 A1, United States Patent and Trademark Office, 17 July 2014. USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database, patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l =50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=neustel.INNM.&OS =IN/neustel&RS=IN/neustel.