Category: Blog

Patents are crucial to protect your ideas and invention. Patent drawings are more significant as it helps the patent application to proceed with no complications. Any fault in the drawing may reject your patent application and you will be deprived of getting a patent on your invention. 

Orthogonal drawing is one of the parts of the entire patent drawing. Patent drawing artists use it to describe the invention precisely. Here is a brief introduction to orthogonal drawing.

What is orthogonal drawing?

Orthogonal Drawing is an estimated multi view drawing of a three-dimensional object to exhibit each view individually, in a series of two-dimensional drawings. For instance, top or bottom, front, back, and sides. In this drawing, it is expected that the object is at infinity and the shape of it is observed in actual size.

Orthogonal drawings can incorporate measurements on each view and are utilized to generate records of material essentials. In such drawings, each edge is denoted by a connected line, each segment of which is parallel to a correspondent axis. 

Several forms of orthographic drawing

Here are two main styles of orthographic drawing:

• First-angle projection: In this, each view is presented as if the observer is observing through the object and projecting the image on the other side. 
•  Third-angle projection: In this, each view is designed as if the object is proposing an image away from itself onto a plane in front of it. It is the image exactly as the spectator observes it on that side. It is the most chosen style in the United States.

Orthographic drawing is generally employed in engineering as a method to compose object blueprints that describe dimensions unambiguously, each line of 1 unit length will seem to have an identical length throughout the drawing. This enables the drafter to dimension only a subset of lines and lets the reader comprehend that other lines of that length on the drawing are also that length in actuality. Each parallel line in the drawing is parallel in the object as well.

If you are viewing a bigger scene with buildings then orthographic rendering supplies a more precise estimation of the range between buildings and their corresponding dimensions.

3 Main Views Of Orthographic Drawing

1. Front view

2. Top view

3. Side view

FRONT VIEW: These views are made by putting the object in front and in this view, the height and length of the object are displayed.

TOP VIEW: By viewing the object from the uppermost side this view is developed and in this view length and breadth of an object are presented.

SIDE VIEW: This view is determined by examining the object from the left side or right side. In this view, the breadth and height of an object are exhibited.

Also Read Orthogonal Drawing Views in detail.

Orthogonal Perspective

In the perspective view, objects which are distant away are tinier than those nearby. In the orthographic view, all objects resemble at the same scale. Since some favor one over the other, both alternatives are possible. Perspective viewpoints present extra data about the depth and are often more straightforward to view because you apply perspective views in actual life. It becomes smooth to distinguish two parts of the molecule with the orthographic view since the question regarding how the viewpoint will influence the perception of distance doesn’t exist.

Some of the most crucial rules to follow while drawing orthographic drawings:

1. Top view and front view should always appear over each other.

2. The length and height of an article should be displayed in the front view.

3. The breadth and height of an article should be presented by side view.

4. The length and breadth of an article should be manifested by the top view.

5. Apart from the front view, the side view always generates.

6. By the connection of two surfaces, the projection line always establishes.

7. With a dotted line, the invisible detail of an article is always revealed.

Here are 4 primary points that should be acknowledged while selecting a view:

1. The chosen view should be more precise.

2. Supreme detail should be made by a selection of the view.

3. Selection view with more internal details should be obtained.

4. A view of the demanded detail should be made and picked.

Patent drawings are subject to rejection even for the minutest mistakes made. Consequently, it becomes vital to keep the guidelines laid by USPTO in mind while generating patent drawings. Patent drawing rules are basic guidelines established by USPTO for the applicant in terms of photographs, charts, flowcharts, graphs, drawings, and so on.

Here are the patent drawings rules are given by USPTO

Application of color

Traditionally, creating patent drawings is done with a pen and ruler, normally in black and white. The basic tools are economical, although drawing is somewhat challenging because you must use India ink (a dark sort of ink with carbon particles that is often practiced in architectural or technical drawings). Errors were not meant to be made, except for very small marks, and it is tough to fix displaced ink lines. Moreover, If it is needed to demonstrate your invention accurately, color drawings may also be presented to the USPTO with your application.

Use of Photographs

Photographs are only permitted where photographs are the sole practical means of demonstrating the invention. For instance, inventions comprising a scientific gel are not suitable for drawings, and photographs are more suited to reveal the invention.

Scale of drawing

The size of the paper should be either 21cm by 29.7cm or 21.6cm by 27.9 cm (8 1/2 by 11 inches). The drawing should be represented on a scale that will not be crowded when reproduced at 2/3 size. Hints like “full scale” or “1/2 scale” are not admissible since they lose their significance with reproduction in various setups.

Also Read : Significant Tips and Tricks to Remember about Patent Illustrations

Margins

The surface usable shall not exceed 26.2 cm x 17.0 cm on sheets containing drawings, The sheets must not include frames around the available or utilized exterior. Following is the minimum margins that should be followed:

•  top: 2.5 cm
•  left side: 2.5 cm
•  right side: 1.5 cm
•  bottom: 1.0 cm

Requirement of paper

The paper must be white, matte (non-shiny), flexible and solid. One side should contain texts while another side should be left blank.

Regarding Views

The drawing must carry as many views as essential to precisely exhibit the invention. Exploded views and blown-up partial views of specific portions of the invention may be utilized. The drawings should be assorted collectively and meet the same direction on the page if you require to display different views of the invention. Drawings are favored to be in the upright form (as opposed to the horizontal landscape drawings). Shading is reinforced where it assists in explaining the invention.

Rules Regarding Numbers & Letters 

Numbers are preferred to letters as relating attributes in a drawing. The English alphabet must be applied when using letters. All numbers, letters, and reference lines, emerging on the drawings, shall be easy and definite. Brackets, circles or inverted commas shall not be practiced in connection with numbers and letters. 

What must be incorporated?

Patent drawing should cover invention name, inventors’ name, application number, and identification. These are obliged to be inserted to produce a successful patent drawing.

Words in Drawings

 The drawings shall not hold text matter, except a single word or words, when completely requisite, such as “water,” “steam,” “open,” “closed,” “section on AB,” and, in the event of electric circuits and block schematic or flow sheet diagrams, a few short catchphrases necessary for understanding. Any words adopted shall be so placed that, if translated, they may be passed over without opposing any lines of the drawings.

Bottom Line

Patent filers should not underestimate the significance of drawings in their applications. Patent offices implement explicit standards related to the technical aspects of drawings they receive, but consideration must be given to more than just satisfying those specifications. A patent applicant’s most reliable choice is to employ the services of a professional draftsperson specialized in technical patent drawings and aware of the various needs of patent offices.

There are several jobs that require no experience and practice and can be accomplished by anyone while there are some tasks that need enormous training and detailed knowledge to perform. Patent drafting is one such job that demands years of experience and qualification. Not everyone can complete this task on their own. One who aspires to defend their invention or unique ideas should consult patent professionals for every step in order to get their invention patented successfully.

Patent drafting basically involves preparing a patent application which has all the detailed stipulations about the invention. It should be made accurately and precisely in order to avoid the chance of getting it rejected by the court.

Here are a few things that a patent application comprises

• An abstract of the patent
• One or more claims
• Background data
• Drawing and detailed description
• Summary

Why does one require patent drafting services?

The patent drafting service is a process of building claims and patent descriptions. They act as a foundation for every patent application and explain the invention accurately and briefly. Although patent drafting services are a tedious and lengthy task, the risk of getting applications rejected diminishes. Following are few points stating the requirement of patent drafting services:

• No malformed application: Patent drafting is a fundamental and critical step. It can be done by an unprofessional as well but the probability of the approval of application and claims holds fewer chances as the tiniest mistake can make your application at fault. As per USPTO, only 20% of the issued patent applications were commercialized. This declares the need of hiring patent drafting professionals for patent drafts.
• Precisely defined claims:  Seeking the guidance of patent drafting services is an exceptional assistant to inventors as it accommodates them to define and express their invention in a detailed manner and remove all passive voices. They use the correct expressions to manifest the ideas with less complication and make them perfect for approval by the jury.
• Limited chance of patent rejection: A poorly written draft may bother or annoy the judges which can end up in patent rejection. To avoid such scenarios, taking the cooperation of professionals will be a wise and right choice.
• Cost-effective:  An inadequately drafted application may attract litigations to amend the claim and language to receive undesired gains. This can be a high-priced error. Selecting an expert is less costly than this. It may seem to the applicant that taking the help of professionals is expensive but they are unaware of the benefits that they will reap in the future.
• Complicated nature of drafting: It may appear an easy business to compose a patent application but it is not a piece of cake for everyone. The nature of the application is way more intricate than it seems. A professional with years of technical and legal knowledge can draft a patent application explicitly. Moreover, the contents of the application should be represented well. For instance, the scope of the patent, etc. wants a thorough explanation which only a professional can handle well.
• Valuable advice: Patent drafting services not only include drafting a patent application but also incorporate valuable and relevant advice that helps you get your invention patented rightly. Patent drafting is a prolonged and tiresome job and filled with a complex process that becomes difficult to understand by a normal person.
• Competitive edge: Patent drafting services give the inventor a competitive edge. A broadly or narrowed established claim can allow the competitors to circumvent the patent. A professional drafter keeps this important point while drafting a patent application and prevents your competitor’s circumvention.

Top 5 things to contemplate while picking a patent drafting service provider

1.  Qualified Patent attorney: Before engaging an attorney for patent drafting service, make sure the attorney holds the required qualifications and is listed to practice before USPTO. He/She also possesses technical and scientific knowledge and must have passed the examination conducted by USPTO to practice in the patent.
2. Consider the cost arrangements: Patent drafting services are expensive and one should only engage with a firm or service provider after knowing the total cost involved in drafting a service. There are times when the service provider discusses the cost after analysing the technicalities of the invention.
3. Look for options: There are many attorneys who will help you get your inventions patented. But people hesitate to reach a number of attorneys fearing the bill. A firm cannot send you a billing email unless you have signed an engagement letter with them stating about bills. Consequently, you should go out and look for as many choices as you can so that you can select the best out of all for your invention.
4. Choose an attorney who can understand your invention: A patent drafter should have both legal and technical knowledge. It is imperative that the attorney understand your invention or idea properly and draft it well in the application. Missing to do so can result in refusal. Hence, obtain the one who has satisfactory expertise in the area of your invention along with legal understanding.
5. Relationship of the firm with the USPTO: Many times, the speed and examination of the patent application can be improved if the firm is having a direct connection with the USPTO examiner interviewer. In case, the application gets rejected, interviewing with the examiner for the same can pave a way to improve the application and hence helps in rectifying it for the approval in future.

Every time, people come up with a unique invention or idea, it needs recognition and security. It can be obtained only through patent filing for that particular invention or idea because the patent laws ensure that no one else claims for the same idea and gets credit for something which is not even original. Every nation has its laws and rules for patent filing and the patent draftsman should acknowledge and proceed accordingly. It is a robust statutory and technical document that gives you the exclusive rights to capitalize on your idea. Additionally, it shields your ideas and inventions against duplication, reuse, and robbery. By applying for a patent, you can guarantee that no other entities can commercially profit from your invention.

What is a patent draftsman?

Patent drafting is a fundamental step in achieving a patent as it specifies the invention. It is the process of writing patent descriptions and claims. It is the essence of every patent application.

A person who writes a patent application is generally considered a patent draftsman.

A patent is a legitimate document. Hence, it must include the required language and clauses to assure that your ideas are preserved. Since patent lawyers and professionals are well-versed with the different laws governing a nation, including patent laws, it can prove remarkably advantageous to collude with such an individual during the patent drafting process. However, before you disclose your invention to them, ensure that they sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Ensuring your legal representative has fully grasped the details of design is crucial. If they do not, they may not be able to do justice to the patent drafting process – defaulting which the possibilities of your patent grant may be revoked. Therefore, it is suggested that inventors endeavor guidance from more qualified patent lawyers.

Also Read: Patent Drafting Services (Protect Your Ideas And Inventions)

What does a draftsman need to have?

The patent draft should compromise following points so as to get a positive response from the jury.

 The headline of the Discovery

The title of the innovation should be concise, precise, and descriptive. It should be located at the head of the specification page and not carry less than 500 words. The title should not include articles such as a, an, the or expressions like new, improved, etc. It will be discarded by the USPTO.

Penning down the technical area

After the headline, the technical field is needed to fill. It should tell about the technical background or the technical area in which the invention is made. If the invention is the solution to the previous invention’s problem, it should also stipulate that. The Background should clearly depict the intention behind the invention.

Statement of discovery

The specification extends and the statement of the invention is then drafted which shall correspond to the claims. Sometimes, the statement of the invention will solely be words to the effect. Nevertheless, we usually favor restating the claim as a whole, because it makes the stipulation more comfortable to read and understand without having to continually refer to other pages. The specification should then explain the benefits of the invention, relating it back to the problems with the former art which were set out earlier.

Brief description Of Discovery

This part of the specification should specify at least one working representation of the invention in detail. Usually, this is done with reference to drawings. The objective of this division is to meet the legal obligation that “enabling disclosure” must be presented, to permit a skilled person to make the invention. It is not mandatory to describe each part of the invention as this job can be done by statement and claims. However, the detailed description should contribute as supportive statements to claims.

Claims in patent application

The claims are the statutory interpretations of the protection which is solicited. They are the most essential component of the application document. Although they come at the end of the specification, most attorneys fancy drafting the claims first. The claims should be clear in their own right as far as is possible and define something which is new, inventive, and fully backed by the disclosure. The claims should eventually be evaluated in the light of the entire description, but that does not present a ‘get-out for careless drafting. The claims must be wide enough to accommodate commercially useful protection – there is no point in having a patent that can be bypassed by changing an insignificant detail.

Generally, claim 1 will define the fundamental features of the invention. Consequent claims will include all the features of claim 1 by reference, and each ‘dependent’ claim will then assign one or more additional, optional features. Each claimed characteristic, including the optional features, should have at least one arguable authority, which should be defined in the body of the stipulation.

Abstract of the Disclosure

Each application must incorporate an Abstract of the Disclosure. The content of an Abstract should enable the reader to instantly discover from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure and what is new. The abstract should not point to purported advantages or uncertain applications of the invention and should not compare the invention with the former art.

Where relevant, the abstract should comprise the following:

•  if a machine or apparatus, its organization, and operation; 
• if an article, its method of making;
•  if a chemical compound, its identity, and use;
•  if a mixture, its ingredients; 
•  if a process, the steps. Extensive mechanical and design details are unnecessary.

Bottom Line

It is crucial for the draftsman to draft a patent application with full attention, holding no scope for rejection. The patent laws of every nation are stern and it’s compelling to adhere to them in order to get your invention patented successfully.

Patent drawing is one of the crucial and fundamental steps in patenting your invention. Without submitting an accurate drawing, one cannot apply for patents. Let us find out some of the important points while generating a drawing for a design patent.

Types of Patent Drawing

Before diving into the subject matter, let us first discover types of patent drawings. There are two types of patent drawings. One is Utility patent drawing and another is design patent drawing. While the former drawing represents the functionalities of the article, the latter represents the ornamental or surface design of the article. Design patent drawings are the drawing of the appearance of the article. 

Requirements by USPTO

Patent drawing is essential for the application and thus, paying attention to its accuracy and preciseness is imperative. USPTO (United States Patent Office) has given its parameters that the inventors should keep in mind before submitting any application regarding patents. Here are some of the conditions required by USPTO: 

• The design should be new and novel. It should not be counterfeited or forged
• The design should be authentic and original.
• It should be ornamental

Also Read How patent drawings are reviewed at USPTO?

Design patent drawings have to obey all of the standard rules demanded of all patent drawings, i.e., black and white, India ink or equivalent black lines, particular sizes of paper, and margins.

Hereabouts Is the Conventional Method of Patenting Your Invention

• Having a precise subject matter is essential 

A design patent guards the way a product seems. The United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) requires that a product have a unique or notable appearance or form that is not prescribed by its function. For a design to be patentable, it should be unique. Designs that incite typically transpiring or well-known designs are not original enough to pass for a design patent. Ultimately, subject matter that is objectionable to nationality, ethnic group, sex, religion, or race will not fit for a design patent.

• Components of a Design Patent Application

Following are the requisite elements for design patents by USPTO:

 (1) Preamble, declaring the name of the applicant, headline of the design, and a brief explanation of nature and proposed usage of the article in which the design is represented;

(2) Cross-reference to associated applications (unless included in the application datasheet).

(3) Statement concerning federally sponsored research or development.

(4) Summary of the figure(s) of the drawing;

(5) Feature description;

(6) A single claim;

(7) Drawings or photographs;

(8) Executed oath or declaration.

• Direct Your Drawings on the Unique Piece of Your Design

When proffering a design patent application, drawings should concentrate on the unique features of your design. If the overall product design is unique, then the drawings should exhibit the overall design of the product. Arrange the pictures for your design patent application at the finish of the product development cycle. 

• Apply Unique Drawings When Registering Utility and Design Patent Applications Together

If you intend on registering a design patent application and a utility patent for the corresponding product, it is sensible to present diverse drawings for each application in many cases. While practicing the same drawings for both applications can conserve money, employing the equivalent drawings may raise the likelihood of USPTO rejection of one or both applications. 

• React Swiftly to Your Patent Analyst

After the USPTO collects your design patent application, they will grant you a notification that affirms your filing date. If the patent examiner attached to your application permits your application, he or she will give you directions for finishing the application process. When you reach your designated patent examiner, be certain to have your filing date, the application number, group art number, and invention title ready. If the examiner demands additional information, be sure to respond promptly, precisely, and completely, so you do not delay the process down. 

When do you need a drawing for the design patent application?

 The drawings for the design patent application must outline the unique piece of what one requires to preserve. In this spirit, the drawings for the design patent application should be developed after you are concluded with the design. The drawings for the design patent application should not be made early in the product development cycle. The idea is that the design might be modified at any time before product launch. If so, the drawings might not help in applying.

Bottom Line

Protecting your inventions becomes vital if you want no one else in the world to come up with the same article. And to guard it, getting it patented is crucial. But protecting your invention through the patent is not a piece of cake. You need to go through various legal procedures and if everything is fine and correct, then only your inventions can reap the benefits of patents.

Design Patent Drawings:

Design patent drawings are the illustrations or drawings of a manufactured object’s design. They’re used in design patent applications and must include complete information about any contours, shape, material texture, properties, and proportions. These drawings must clearly show every feature visible during use and no part of the object’s design should be left to the imagination. Drawings should include shading that indicates surface characteristics and these shaded areas can depict transparent, solid, and open areas. These drawings are the defining component of a design patent application that plays a far more pivotal role in describing the product as compared to the words of the description. 

Include Every Possible View in design patent drawings

When creating design patent drawings, the innovator must include all views of the object’s design. If you’re in doubt about whether to include it, err on the side of too much then provide images of the front, top, bottom, back, left, and right.

Imprint the left and right sides if they are mirror images. Simply labeling each will help your patent application analyst get a better understanding of the exact patent design.

If your innovation item is flat and thin, only front and rear views are important. Make sure to precisely explain the reasoning for including fewer images of the design.

The exception to including each view is any plain, unornamented view of the innovation item. The plain section won’t contribute to your design patent, so no need to send images of these portions in with your patent application.

Consider Perspective Views in drawings

A 2D drawing won’t display the three dimensions of the innovation. It’s useful to provide perspective views of the innovation’s design to display the dimensions of the object.

You may also want to incorporate unique views. Sectional views help bring out specific components. They can also precisely display functional features that make the object design unique.

Exploded views are helpful if the design incorporates separate components. On the off chance that the item has components that come apart in typical use, submit pictures of each part. Make a point to give a bracket that joins the exploded part to where it fits in the full design. You ought to give all perspective views in addition to the imperative front, top, bottom, back, left, and right views.

Meaning of Dots and Lines in design patent drawings

All design patent drawings must be prepared in a certain style. The technical design includes dots and lines. You can apply to shade as if a light is shining from the upper left of the picture. There are two acceptable types of shading in design drawings:

• Linear shading: This includes parallel lines. You can include broken or continuous lines. The lines assist to depict shiny or transparent surfaces, such as polished metal, glass, or reflective stone.
• Stippled Shading: It includes small dots. This shading helps to represent contour and shadowing. It is also useful for rough textures.

Surface shading also assists the reviewer to see whether the design infringes on an existing patent. Even on a 2D drawing, shading aids showcase the contours and make the image look more realistic.

Why Design Patent Drawings Are Important?

Design patent drawings are greatly significant in the application process. The design patent application includes few words and far more images or pictures. The pictures bring your design to life and give the application reviewer a sense of what you are asking to patent. Without precise and concise pictures, you won’t get a design patent.

You must include all required views to meet the application requirements of the United States Patent and Trademark Office that include views from the top and bottom, front and rear, and right and left sides. If you eliminate any view then include specific details as to why it is not included. The left and right sides might be identical representations of each other. It’s OK to provide one view, in these cases. But for this, make sure to explain that the opposite side is a mirror image.

Reasons to Consider Utilizing Design Patent Drawings

Design patent drawings are needed as part of your application for a design patent. Without the required drawings, your design patent application will be returned without review.

Deadline for filing an application

You must submit all necessary design patent drawings with your application to the USPTO. The time limit for filing a patent design application is within 12 months of public introduction. The 12-month period applies after you’ve displayed your object of manufacture with a unique and ornamental design in any public forum. 

What Could Happen If You Don’t Use Design Patent Drawings in the application?

If you don’t present any design patent drawings, your patent application will not go through. By submitting a patent application without drawings is a waste of time and money for everybody involved.

Some innovators incorporate design patent drawings but don’t follow the necessary format. By doing so will bring a delay because the patent analyst will have to demand accurate pictures. It could likewise bring about a denial of your patent application.

At the point when you’re setting up a design patent application, you can either create the design patent drawings yourself or recruit an expert draftsperson. By making them yourself will save money but needs you to fully comprehend the strict prerequisites. Review the USPTO application guide to ensure you know which views are necessary, how to use shading, dots, and lines to reflect various angles and aspects, how to label the drawings and many more.

Creating patent drawings by yourself also comes with benefits, such as:

• More precise rendering of your design, since you comprehend the concept more completely
• Self-satisfaction for completing the whole patent application process yourself
• The capability to make additional drawings for collateral and other promotional products
• Not having to go back and forth for changes with an outside person who doesn’t understand your design

Common Mistakes

• Failing to incorporate the right views: USPTO requires six specific views. If you don’t incorporate those six views, you must simply state why in the description. Additional views, including 3-D, segmented, exploded, or sectional, is helpful but not required.
• Incorporating photos instead of drawings: It might seem more logical to take an image of the prototype, but USPTO has strict specifications and only allows images in certain cases. Review those to see whether your design applies.
• Not incorporating shading: The two main types of shading help your design come alive. Without it, the design is just a 2D image that isn’t precise to your patent analyst. Make sure to utilize the two acceptable styles of shading to depict your design.

Conclusion

With precise and accurate design patent drawings, you can acquire a design patent on your unique ornamental design. You should adhere to the strict rules or guidelines set by USPTO to avoid problems with your patent application. Design patents are becoming more widely accepted. Major manufacturers use design patents daily to protect their unique designs.

Patent illustrations are important and play a crucial role in the patent application. But unfortunately, most of the patent applications get rejected in the initial stage, then there are certainly other issues, including default in drawings, which is the most ignored part of the patent application.

The patent application is also interfered with without having the formal drawings and the purpose of adding drawing in the patent application is to create a visual appearance of the innovation because a description of the innovation alone cannot create an actual comprehension. The illustrations can be regarded as a secondary language that assists the potential and the society to get the actual picture of the innovation.

How Patent Illustration/Drawings got Rejected and How to Get Rid of Them

Let’s consider specific points due to which this patent got rejected: 

1. Do not admit to direct reproduction

Patent drawings should not be filed directly to the office. There should be proper black and white line drawings, which is highly preferable by almost all of the judiciaries who can use color or grayscale pictures too, for some specific patents only. For that, it is going to take more effort, time, expense, and expertise.

2. Drawing contains unnecessary text matter

Another rejection point, which says, the sheet or the drawing contains unnecessary text matter. This is when the patent gets rejected due to the carefree and non-professional approach of the applicant and ends up having an office action. The patent drawings should not have any text or number that is not needed or belong to the patent drawing and this is why you need a patent drafter who understands the draft and patent prerequisite.

3. Lines with persistent black color

The drawing should have lines with persistent black color that should be uniformly thick to be long lasting and withstand the pressure handling in several copies. It is a tedious task and it depends on the expertise of the illustrator who makes it precise to the requirement.

4. The cross-section

When an inventor dissemble its product, it divides into several sub-parts with their section surfaces. These surfaces need to be shown with a hatch filing into it where various hatch patents can be used to indicate various surfaces. It is necessary to have a patent expert who has this knowledge of hatch patents and how he or she differentiates among the surfaces and the material of different parts of patent drawings.

5. Non-distinguishable drawings while reproducing

This is a most important point of an objection among drawings and it keeps cropping in an office action many a time, especially in patent illustrations that have complexes in minor details. In this situation, while filing a patent, the drawings are reduced to size two-thirds in reproduction, indications, such as actual size or scale 1*2 are not allowed on the patent drawings since it will lose their meaning when reproduced in another format.

6. Difficult to differentiate claimed and unclean portions

In most of the design cases, it makes it difficult to differentiate between the claimed and unclean portions, this causes a to and fro rejection of the patent. A patent illustrator is proficient enough in preparing those patent drawings with fineness, without compromising with quality and claim of the patent product.

Another point that we used to see a lot in an office action form, that is, it contains numbers and letters, less than 0.32 cm. 

7. Maintain a constant size

Although, it seems much easier to maintain a constant size of the text. But this is among the most rapid reasons to receive rejection as it is essential to know which text to be kept and which not. Sometimes, the section including the text is too small or too large that it becomes very difficult to go by the standards. For getting it approved you will need the assistance of an expert in drawings.

Sometimes a figure is hard to keep on a single sheet. It occurs mostly in flow diagrams, piping and instrumentation diagrams, electrical circuits, and many more. To make them ready for filing, one must know how they can be split into different sheets by drawing connections among the parts of figures that can be seen as a single figure when assembled.

8. Figures are not properly arranged and separated clearly

Another objection coin contains figures which are not properly arranged and separated clearly. This becomes a problem when you try to keep multiple figures into one sheet, it makes the patent drawing messy and difficult to recognize the actual claims or essential details while reducing prediction.

9. Drawings not arranged in an upright position

It is said that the drawings are not arranged in upright positions, clearly separated from one another. In patent drafts, the figures are used to keep an upright position whether they are in cock-trait sheet or a landscape sheet. Orientation of the sheet can also lead a patent application towards rejection. These were the points that can cause a patent rejection and these were some of the common requirements that can be considered by most of the countries.

10. Satisfactory Reproduction

Satisfactory Reproduction guarantees that this patent is fit enough to be filed as per the PCT guidelines, it depends on the rule number 11 and 26 of the PCT system. These rules and points can be different for different countries, or maybe, they have similar rules, but with a different approach or different rule numbers. 

Conclusion

According to the patent laws, an applicant must furnish a patent illustrations of the invention wherever applicable. Innovation is always properly explained when the description is supplemented with a detailed illustration. The illustrator should draft illustrations keeping in mind the patent drawing rules of the concerned PTOs to avoid patent drawing rejections. This includes utility patent drawings and design patent drawings that can represent the invention in detail.

Patent illustrations or drawings are one of the most essential components of a patent draft. If made prudently and wisely, it can assist you a lot in expediting the overall patent granting process. Unlike other kinds of normal drawings, making drawings for patents demands understanding of patent drawing rules, acquaintance with the patent regulatory framework, and an artistic approach towards drawing.

What are illustrations for patents?

Patent illustrations are also called patent drawings and are used to represent an innovation visually. In this, we can use graphs, diagrams, pictures, and drawings to present our innovation visually.

Are illustrations for patents mandatory?

No, patent illustrations are not mandatory as per statutory rules; still, a candidate should include patent drawing as it adds a lot to the comprehension of the innovation. It allows a quick look at the final product which will be available after it is manufactured.

What are different views needed in a patent drawing?

There are mainly six views that are utilized in patent illustrations. Though there are no minimum views required, still, we need to add maximum views as possible as it can assist patent examiners to comprehend the innovation without emphasizing much on their eyebrows. Some of the essential views those we can use in patent illustrations are:

• Sectional views
• Duplicate views
• Exploded views
• Plain and un-ornamented view
• Flat objects Views

What is dimensioning in patent illustration?

Dimensioning adds information that specifies

• The exact size of the object
• Location of features (e.g. holes)
• Characteristics of features (e.g. depth and diameter of hole)
• What materials are to be used, how the part is to be completed
• Dimensions also communicate the tolerance (or accuracy)

Comprehending the patent illustrator’s preliminary steps, in anticipation of good patent illustrations, is essential to your success. Great patent illustrators focus on this, constantly.

The final form of a patent application is of great significance. The USPTO places great emphasis on thoroughness. There are numerous rules to be complied with. Every patent examiner has tremendous discretion over whether a patent application is approved or rejected. By completely meeting the prerequisites and guidelines of the USPTO’s, you will have a better application. Your possibility of success is better than an application that does not comply. It is imperative to focus on detail. 

Here are steps to prepare your information for patent drawings: 

1. This is the time to collect all of your prior art references. These references can come from worldwide patent searches, textbooks, the Internet & more. Focus on what is different about innovation. Patent illustrators may also ask you, what parts require to be displayed in detail of your illustrations and what parts are general.

2. In a comprehensible form, to the most excellent of your ability, rough sketch the innovation. This is the basis of your whole patent application. The patent illustrations are the most essential element of the patent application. Ask yourself, when an examiner looks at your patent application, what is the first thing to be looked at? and that is the drawings.

In sketching your preliminary drawings, you do not have to be worried about the size of the drawings or the layout of the figures. The patent illustrator will deal with that. The primary concern is to show all aspects of your innovation.

3. Note down a name adjacent to each part, in each sketch. 

4. Draw a lead line connecting the name to the part or component. 

5. Show every new feature. You do not have to be so worried about labeling the prior art.

6. Construct a description of the innovation in short simple sentences from your sketches.

7. This information alongside some other collateral material, like photographs, is all that patent illustrators require to finish formal patent illustrations. Patent drawings are the basis of a patent application. Good patent drawings or illustrations by professional patent illustrators guarantee a successful examination by the USPTO’s examiner.