Editing Continuing patent application (section)

=== Divisional ===
{{See also|Divisional patent application}}
A divisional application also claims priority based on the filing date of the parent application, but differs from a continuation application in that a divisional application claims a distinct or independent invention "carved out" of the parent application. A divisional application must share at least one of the inventors named in the parent application. A divisional application is often filed after the examiner issued a "restriction requirement", because a patent can only claim a single invention (cf. [[unity of invention]]). The [[USPTO]] practice of splitting patent applications into numerous divisionals has been criticized as an abuse intended to increase the USPTO revenues at the expense of patent holders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.attorneyatlaw.com/definition/divisional-patent-application|title=Divisional Patent Application|accessdate=8 July 2023}}</ref>