Any patent application for a device or design that calls for a visual representation of the functions and concepts at play must include drawings. To increase the chance that a patent will be issued, all inventors must offer the best patent drawings possible to help examiners rapidly comprehend the innovation described in the application.
Few instances can sufficiently explain a patentable creation in writing alone, whether it be when submitting a patent application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), European Patent Office (EPO), or the Intellectual Property (IP) regulatory agencies in other jurisdictions. Please provide drawings or illustrations with your application.
We will look at the principles of patent illustration in this article and the procedures you must follow to create drawings suitable for your utility- or design-patent application. We’ll look at some common usage examples for patent drawings, but it’s updated to consult a professional in your particular situation.
What is an example of a patent?
An illustration of a patent includes more than just drawings of the object to be patented. Images have diagrams, flow charts, sectional or cross-sectional views, and “exploded” pictures that show the connections between and steps in assembling different pieces of an invention.
An illustration is likely any two-dimensional visual representation of an innovation you want to patent. Photographs can occasionally qualify as “illustrations,” but a few restrictions exist.
Typically, patent examiners only request to see photographs of an invention or design when no other visual representation of the creativity or innovation is conceivable or practical. Consider the scenario where you must depict crystal structures. The only practical way to exhibit such features in that situation, as may be the case for particular pharmaceutical or life-science patent applications, is through photographs.
When photographs are necessary for your patent application, most jurisdictional bodies prefer that they be in black and white. That includes the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for applications submitted through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) framework.
The following additional restrictions apply to some agencies accepting coloured photos: The EPO will only scan, print, and disseminate the black-and-white versions of the pictures. While this is going on, the USPTO mandates that applicants file.
A petition explaining the necessity of colour separately from the application will assume that any colour used in a patent issued will be an intrinsic element unless a disclaimer is if. Finally, colour photos are not allowed in PCT submissions.
What guidelines apply to patent drawings?
Size and spatial orientation appear in more in-depth criteria for patent drawings. The paper should be A4 size (8 14 by 11 34 inches or 21 by 29.7 centimetres), according to most patent and trademark offices worldwide. Nonetheless, some will accept the American norm of 8 12″ by 11″ (21.6 by 27.9 centimetres).
The USPTO stipulates the minimum margins for pages containing drawings or diagrams. Margin standards are just as exact. 2.5 cm must be present on the top and left. 1.5 centimetre and 1 cm, respectively, must be left on the right and bottom edges.
In addition, as opposed to a horizontal landscape position, most patent offices prefer the drawings to be vertically upright.
Drawings, unlike photographs, are often made in black ink on white, non-glossy paper without the use of colour. It may be allowed if you prove that the colour is crucial to your application, but in most cases, it is not worth the time, money, and risk of delaying your filing date.
I could improve A few things on what the drawings themselves can contain. It should show all surfaces of the object from as many angles and viewpoints as possible. Each group of figures representing a particular sectional view should face the same way, and we collect. Use oblique hatching on cross-section drawings to ensure that none of the various representations obscures any of the illustration’s leading lines or reference markers.
The drawings should be different so that even a slight reduction would make it impossible to distinguish the features because they will duplicate them at around two-thirds of their original size during the assessment procedure.
Furthermore, the optimum reference characters should be numerals. If letters must be used, use those from the local alphabet. Last but not least, keep the designs as wordless as possible, but, if necessary, utilise the terminology of the applicable jurisdiction. These would be English, French, or German in the European Union; English in the United States.
How can you maximize the impact of your patent drawings?
Your patent application’s success depends on adhering to the guidelines presented above, specifically customised for the appropriate patent office(s). Due to their busy schedules and frequent backlogs, patent offices frequently reject applications for minor infractions. Additionally, you must do a prior art search before filing to show the novelty of your invention effectively.
The clarity in drawing composition is the primary goal, in addition to meeting the standards of the patent office you are submitting. The details in the drawings will eventually have the most significant impact and convey the most information, even though the language used in your abstract, description, and claims regarding the invention or design is crucial. In terms of patent filing, a picture speaks a thousand words.
Given the complexity, it can be most straightforward and economical for you to delegate patent drafting and drawing preparation to the professionals at IP Docketers. A tried-and-true method to increase the likelihood of getting a patent grant is to use the services of a worldwide IP legal company to produce a professional patent application. Our local offices worldwide must fulfil your drafting requirements following the laws and accepted procedures of all relevant jurisdictions.
