{"id":618,"date":"2014-04-08T11:25:25","date_gmt":"2014-04-08T16:25:25","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=618"},"modified":"2021-10-20T14:06:28","modified_gmt":"2021-10-20T18:06:28","slug":"getting-a-patent-outline-of-a-patent-application","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive-lynchlaw.pfgsandbox.com\/?p=618","title":{"rendered":"Getting a Patent: Outline of a Patent Application"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em style=\"font-style: italic;\">by:\u00a0 Kathleen Kuznicki, Esq.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you are considering\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/exitpromise.com\/what-is-a-patent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">getting a patent<\/a>, you should be familiar with the items that must be included in a patent application. Below is a detailed outline of the material you will need to prepare to patent your new invention.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">1. \u00a0Background\u00a0\u2014 You set the story for your invention<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Describe the field and what problem is being solved<\/li>\n<li>Describe how previously the problem was solved <em>(if it was even previously recognized)<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Describe the deficiencies of the previous technology\n<ul>\n<li>Didn\u2019t actually solve the problem (it didn\u2019t really work)<\/li>\n<li>Solved the problem, but inadequately; improvements are needed<\/li>\n<li>Solved the problem adequately, but not optimally; advantages are unrealized<\/li>\n<li>Evolving technologies create evolving problems that need evolving solutions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">2. \u00a0Summary of the Invention\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Your invention:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Solves the problem!!<\/li>\n<li>Improves upon the previous ways to solve the problem!!<\/li>\n<li>Has advantages that optimize solving the problem!!<\/li>\n<li>Builds upon the latest technology to solve the problem!!<\/li>\n<li>Is faster, smaller, less complicated, more cost effective, easier to make, easier to use, etc., and\u00a0<em>your invention does this all in a novel and non-obvious way!!!<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">3. \u00a0Short Description\u00a0of The Figures<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">\u00a0\u2014 these descriptions are essentially the captions you would give the individual figures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">4. \u00a0Detailed Description<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Reinforce the important points made in the background and summary<\/li>\n<li>Describe all conceivable embodiments; basic, preferred, most preferred, etc.<\/li>\n<li>Describe the Figures in excruciating detail; describe every configuration and every element that comprises the configurations, describe how the elements cooperate to achieve a purpose;<\/li>\n<li>All elements must be labeled with numerals in the Figures<\/li>\n<li>Describe the invention from the broadest terms possible that achieve the intended function to the most specific elements that optimizes your invention<\/li>\n<li>Use non-limiting language as much as possible<\/li>\n<li>Use boilerplate language-\u00a0e.g.-the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">5. \u00a0Figures<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Follow the Standards For Drawing outlined in\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/web\/offices\/pac\/mpep\/s608.html#d0e47639\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">37 CFR 1.84<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Show different embodiments as\u00a0<em>examples<\/em>-not limiting!!!<\/li>\n<li>Show your ideal embodiment(s) with all the necessary elements<\/li>\n<li>Use flow charts to enhance the understanding of methods or processes<\/li>\n<li>For physical items show differing views \u2013 front, top, side, bi-sectional to see the inside of the device, exploded to see the various parts, close-up of intricate configurations, etc.<\/li>\n<li>Every\u00a0device\/part\/subpart\u00a0must\u00a0be labeled with a numeral and\u00a0must\u00a0be described<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">6. \u00a0Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Summary of the Summary-problem that is solved and key features of the invention<\/li>\n<li>Words that would be used in a patent search; some systems only use title and abstract<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Claims are the most important part of the application; they are what\u00a0legally define\u00a0the invention!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Claims are what the examiner compares to the prior art (usually previous patents and patent applications, but can be\u00a0<em>anything<\/em>\u00a0in the public domain, such as journal articles, websites, etc.)<\/li>\n<li>Claims are to what a product will ultimately be compared to determine infringement; every feature\/element\/configuration defined in the claim must be contained in the product\/process for a finding of infringement<\/li>\n<li>Individual claims are allowed to be\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>only one<\/em><\/span>\u00a0sentence!! That is why they seem so convoluted!<\/li>\n<li>Must claim as patentable subject matter -any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof\n<ul>\n<li>Must<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>\u00a0not<\/em><\/span>\u00a0claim as non-patentable subject matter\n<ul>\n<li>abstract ideas<\/li>\n<li>mental processes<\/li>\n<li>laws of nature<\/li>\n<li>algorithms<\/li>\n<li>physical phenomena<\/li>\n<li><em>no clear cut boundaries<\/em>&#8211; latest court cases have only added to the confusion!!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Independent Claims\n<ul>\n<li>Broadest definitions of the invention using the least amount of limitations<\/li>\n<li>Initial filing- trying to define only what is minimally necessary for a functional invention; what is adequate, not what is optimal (no bells and whistles)<\/li>\n<li>Use of generic descriptions as opposed to specifically defined features\/elements<\/li>\n<li>Use of functional language as opposed to defining structure (if you can get away with it)<\/li>\n<li>Testing the broad boundaries of the invention vs. the prior art<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Dependent Claims\n<ul>\n<li>Further refine your invention with claims of a more narrow scope<\/li>\n<li>Fall back positions if the independent claims are rejected or invalidated<\/li>\n<li>Additional limitations to further distinguish your invention from the prior art<\/li>\n<li>More specifically define features\/elements, especially to define alternatives<\/li>\n<li>Additional features\/elements that enhance or optimize your invention<\/li>\n<li>If defining a range \u2013 define a more and a more narrow scope to the range<\/li>\n<li>\u201cpicture claim\u201d- very specifically defining an embodiment; usually the product to be sold; the most narrow claim and the least protective claim<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>*Claims are usually amended during the patent prosecution process to further clarify the invention or to further distinguish the invention from prior art references cited by the patent examiner.\u00a0 The\u00a0<em>final<\/em>\u00a0set of claims in the\u00a0<em>issued<\/em>\u00a0patent is used for infringement determinations.<\/p>\n<p><em style=\"font-style: italic;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Kathleen Kuznicki is a contributing writer to Exit Promise. Please visit\u00a0<a style=\"color: #743399;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.exitpromise.com\">www.exitpromise.com<\/a>\u00a0to view more articles by Kathleen<\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by:\u00a0 Kathleen Kuznicki, Esq. If you are considering\u00a0getting a patent, you should be familiar with the items that must be included in a patent application. Below is a detailed outline of the material you will need to prepare to patent &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/archive-lynchlaw.pfgsandbox.com\/?p=618\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[74,56],"tags":[89,84,88],"class_list":["post-618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ip-news","category-general-news-updates","tag-invention","tag-patent","tag-patent-application-invention"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive-lynchlaw.pfgsandbox.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive-lynchlaw.pfgsandbox.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive-lynchlaw.pfgsandbox.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-lynchlaw.pfgsandbox.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-lynchlaw.pfgsandbox.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=618"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive-lynchlaw.pfgsandbox.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10086,"href":"https:\/\/archive-lynchlaw.pfgsandbox.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618\/revisions\/10086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive-lynchlaw.pfgsandbox.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-lynchlaw.pfgsandbox.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-lynchlaw.pfgsandbox.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}