What characterizes a Continuation application?

A Continuation application is characterized by its ability to claim the same invention as a prior non-provisional application. This type of application allows the applicant to pursue additional claims or refine claims based on the previously filed application while maintaining the benefit of the original application's filing date. This is particularly useful when a patent examiner has raised issues regarding the original claims or when an applicant recognizes the need to explore different aspects of the same invention in further detail.

Furthermore, the purpose of a Continuation application is to keep the same subject matter alive while also ensuring that the applicant can adapt to ongoing developments in patentability or competitive technologies. As such, the focus on the same invention ties directly into the procedural structure that enables an applicant to pursue multiple paths to securing patent protection for the same fundamental concept.

In contrast, the other options would typically characterize different types of patent applications or situations that do not apply to the Continuation application process. Therefore, the understanding that a Continuation application builds upon the content and claims of a previously filed application is crucial for grasping the fundamentals of patent law and the procedure involved in securing patent rights.