Patent Drawing Rules: Latest USPTO Guidelines

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.