What is the purpose of a transition application in the context of patent filing?

The purpose of a transition application in the context of patent filing is to convert between application types. Transition applications are particularly relevant when an applicant wants to change the status of their application from one type to another, for example, from a provisional application to a non-provisional application, or vice versa. This conversion process allows applicants to leverage previous work done on their earlier application while ensuring compliance with the requirements of the new application type.

By facilitating this change, transition applications help streamline the patent prosecution process and ensure that applicants can maintain their rights while adapting to changes in their invention or strategy. This supports the overall goals of patent law, which aims to encourage innovation by allowing inventors flexibility in how they pursue protection for their inventions. Other options address different aspects of patent filing, such as simplifying processes or submitting additional documentation, but they do not accurately capture the specific function of a transition application in changing application types.