Our effective guide to patent drawings, draft descriptions, and abstracts suggests that patent application always consists of multiple parts. Each section of an application serves a different purpose. These parts include the draft description, patent drawings, and abstract. The draft description mentions every detail of the invention and patent drawings help illustrate it. Then comes the abstract that summarizes the technical details of the invention. It’s vital to keep these sections accurate and concise to strengthen the patent application. The following article discusses these aspects in detail.
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What is a Draft Description?
The draft description is the most critical part of a patent application that entails a description of the invention. It states how the inventor made the invention and how he can use it. The description should be sufficient enough to enable any skilled person in the same field to practice the invention. However, a detailed description alone cannot make the patent application absolute. That is why applicants have the option of including illustrations to aid the examiner’s understanding of the invention.
The draft description offers information on the function of every part based on the reference numbers highlighted in patent drawings. Thus, this must include every detail of the invention along with the best way to perform the invention.
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How to Draft the Description
A coherent and meticulous description of the invention is key to a successful patent grant. This section must include a brief explanation of the invention with the help of drawings. However, applicants should avoid the use of terms that may limit the scope of the invention.
Similarly, this section should disclose details of the invention along with the best mode to use it. It does not matter whether the invention is a product or a process. The physical structure or the method of conducting the invention should be in detail. Other factors to keep in mind while drafting descriptions are as follows.
- The nature of improvements/modifications one makes in prior art should be clear. Moreover, it must also remain detailed in the case of the ‘patent of addition’ application. It is an application one makes for a patent with respect to modification of the invention disclosed in the main application (for which the patentee has already applied for or has obtained a patent).
- Reference to drawings should be specific and clearly mentioned in an acceptable format.
- This section should support all the details that one needs protection for in the patent application.
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Guide to Patent Drawings – Requirements and Conditions
The draft description section is followed by patent drawings. Patent drawings are extremely helpful in illustrating the invention and expanding its disclosure. For instance, one can explain every invention in the engineering field with the help of diagrams. So multiple drawings with detailed descriptions can make an application more effective and descriptive. Thus, one must draft these drawings following the guidelines of the patent office concerned. The points below highlight a few important factors to keep in mind while drafting drawings; and the two figures below visually represent these norms.
- Invention Details: Patent drawings should determine a device, a system, and methods of carrying out an invention.
- Sheet Type and Margin: One must ensure preparing drawings on an A4 or letter-size sheet (according to filing requirement) using black indelible ink on thick and durable paper. It should have a margin of 25 mm at the top and left side, 15 mm at the right side, and 10 mm at the bottom.
- Drawing Rules: Drawings shall be on a scale large enough to depict the inventions clearly and must not include any marked dimensions. Most importantly, no descriptive matter should appear in illustrations.
- Applicant’s Name and Sheets: the name of the applicant should be present in the margin area, – middle of the sheet. You can view the same in the two figures below. The total number of sheets and consequential sheet number should be present in the middle of the sheet – below the margin line.
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Abstract – Drafting it, the Right Way!
The patent drawing section is followed by an abstract that provides technical details of the invention. It refers to the technical field of the invention along with the existing problems and their solutions. The abstract aims to assist the official classification of the application based on prior art and provide a concise text that helps third parties during a patent search. Therefore, it’s important to draft it with utmost care. The abstract contains a summary of the invention, which mentions the draft description and claims showcased by patent drawings.
To be effective, the abstract should be consistent with the broadest claim and include technical information on invention, its usefulness, and related complications. You must ensure drafting it on a fresh page and conclude it within 150 words. Moreover, you must draft it based on notified rules specified by the patent and trademark office concerned. For example, the patent applications in the US follow the patent drawing guidelines listed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Generally, the abstract is the first part in a patent application that falls in the eyes of an examiner. Therefore, all details of the invention should be accurate and clear.
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Effective Guide to Patent drawings, Descriptions, & Abstracts – Choose PatSketch!
The success of a patent application depends on multiple factors and the three sections in this article occupy a significant share in determining it. The mentioned pointers can help organizations strengthen their patent application by drafting descriptions, drawings, and abstracts in line with the standard norms. Therefore, businesses must show due diligence while catering to these sections. Further, they must avoid hesitating to seek professional help from strategic IP partners to optimize the entire patent filing process.
PatSketch’s patent drawing/illustration services help businesses draft patent drawings according to the patent and trademark office rules. Our team of trained illustrators provides strong commitments to offer customized and cost-effective solutions to businesses.
– Ankur Sharma, Rupesh Vajpayee, and Himanshu Panwar (Illustration) and the Editorial Team