• Home
  • About
    • Client Reviews
    • Patent Samples
    • Accolades
    • About Firm
    • Technologies
    • FAQs
  • Services
    • Patent
      • Utility Patents
      • Design Patents
      • Patent Application
      • Patent Defense
      • Patent Enforcement
      • Working with In-House Attorneys
    • Trademark
      • Trademark Search
      • Trademark Application
      • Trademark Enforcement
      • Trademark Defense
    • Licensing
    • Worldwide IP
    • Risk Management
    • Due Diligence
  • Industries
    • Browse Patent Samples
    • Automotive Patents
    • Construction Patents
    • Consumer Products Patents
    • Electronics Patents
    • Food, Beverage, & Other Culinary Patents
    • Manufacturing Patents
    • Medical Products & Devices Patents
    • Optics Patents
    • Software & App Patents
    • Tools & Equipment Patents
  • Learning Resources
    • First-Time Inventor?
    • Why Patent Your Invention in a Bad Economy?
    • Videos on Patents
    • Search 180+ Articles
      • Patent process
        • Overview of Patent Process
          • Patent process timeline and major milestones
          • Patent Process: Invention to Patent Granted (Simplified)
          • Patent process, overall steps and procedures
        • Overview of the examination process within the USPTO
          • Highs and lows of securing patent protection for your invention
          • What is the Patent Office procedure after filing a patent application?
        • Benefits of a Patent Search
          • What is a patent search and How to do it?
        • Patent attorneys, agents and the USPTO can help with the patent process
        • USPTO Website
      • Invention Agreements
        • What is an NDA and when to use them?
        • How to use a contract to protect your invention?
        • Working with others without losing your IP rights
        • Patent Assignments for Independent Contractors
        • Losing Invention Rights When Hiring or Collaborating with Others
        • Avoid Problems: Get an Invention Assignment Agreement
      • Protect Inventions
        • Misconceptions of Provisional Patent Applications
        • Do you need to get your patent attorney to sign an NDA?
        • Can a confidentiality agreement protect me like a patent application?
        • Four types of intellectual property to protect your idea and how to use them
          • Overview of Patents and Intellectual Property
          • Patent protection benefits and why every inventor should consider getting one
          • 8 tips to successfully protect your idea
          • Benefits of Patent Protection
          • Best uses for design patents
        • Reasons to only market your invention after securing patent pendency
          • Dangers of 1 yr grace period under first-inventor-to-file system
          • File a patent application before telling others about the invention
        • Risks and benefits of securing software patent protection
          • Strategy to overcome patentable subject matter rejection
        • Pros and cons of filing a continuation-in-part application
          • What is a continuation patent application?
      • How Patent Applications Work: the Basics
        • How to respond to an office action?
        • Request for non-publication of a patent application
        • Anatomy of a Patent Document
        • How to write a broad patent application?
        • Design patents: pros and cons
      • Patent costs
        • How much does it cost to get a utility patent?
        • Provisional Patent Application: Cheap Alternative?
        • Patent Cost Framework and cash flow
        • Provisional patent application: a cheap option?
        • Cheap provisional patent applications
      • Patent infringement
        • Basics of writing a patent claim for a patent application
        • Patent Marking: Everything you wanted to know
        • Avoiding Patent Infringement
        • Can I Copy My Competitor’s Product?
        • Can I Copy My Competitor’s Product? (Design Patent)
      • Worldwide patents
        • Pros and cons of securing worldwide patent protection and their steps
        • Foreign patent filing to secure protection in other countries
      • Responding to Office Actions
        • Overview of Office Actions
      • Trademarks
        • Trademark Registration: common law, state and federal
        • How to obtain a federal trademark registration?
        • How to select a trademark?
          • Protect your idea when pitching to an investor, potential licensee, or buyer
  • Schedule Consultation
  • Contact

Top-Rated Orange County Patent Lawyer | Helping Inventors in Orange County, Los Angeles County & Beyond | OC Patent Lawyer, Irvine CA

Orange County Patent Attorney

(949) 433-0900
You are here: Home / Anatomy of a Patent Document

Anatomy of a Patent Document

Sections of a patent

The patent document is divided into several sections which provide different types of information regarding the invention. The patent document is comprised of the following sections:

  • Summary page
  • Drawing set
  • Background of the invention
  • Brief summary of the invention
  • Brief description of the drawings
  • Detailed description of the invention
  • Claim set

Example patent

Click here to see a patent.

Summary page

The summary page includes:

1) Patent Number – used to identify the patent

2) Name(s) of Inventor(s) – last name of the first inventor is also used to identify the patent

3) Serial Number – a unique serial number assigned to every patent application

4) Abstract- used to indicate the general nature and gist of the patent’s subject matter (MPEP 608.01(b); 37 CFR 1.72)

5) Prior Art References – show all references considered by the Patent Office

6) Representative Drawing – selected by the examiner to illustrate the claimed invention

Drawings

The drawing set is used to aid in the understanding of the invention. The written text of the patent application will refer to features in the drawing set by reference numeral. The drawings must also show all claimed elements.

Background

The background of the invention section of the patent document may describe the general nature of the problem to be solved by the invention and the state of the existing technology (MPEP 608.01(c)).

Brief summary

The brief summary of the invention section provides a condensed version of the detailed description of the invention. The brief description of the drawing identifies all figures.

Detailed description

The detailed description of the invention describes the invention in detail so as to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention without undue experimentation. (MPEP 608.01(g)). This requirement ensures that the public is able to use the invention after expiration of the patent’s term.

Claim set (Most important part of the patent)

The claim set section defines the metes and bounds (i.e., scope) of patent protection afforded under the patent. It is located at the back of the patent document. It usually starts with a phrase “I Claim,” “We Claim” or “What is claimed is.” The claim set must particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor regards as his/her invention. (MPEP 608.01(i); 37 CFR 1.75).

I invite you to contact me with your patent questions at (949) 433-0900 or [email protected]. Please feel free to forward this article to your friends. As an Orange County Patent Attorney, I serve Orange County, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego and surrounding cities.

Related Articles for Patent Applications

  • How to respond to an office action?
  • Request for non-publication of a patent application
  • Anatomy of a patent document
  • How to write a broad patent application?
  • Design patents: pros and cons
  • How not to write the background section of a patent application?
  • Avoid disparaging prior art in patent application
  • Broad claims pose enablement issues
  • Claim Drafting Tip: Avoid means plus function claims
  • Functional language invalidates patent claim
  • Transitional phrase in a claim determines scope of patent protection
  • Patent Drafting Tip: Alternative embodiments create prior art
  • Preparing Drawings for a Utility Patent Application
  • Expedited examination at the USPTO
  • Define the invention
  • Claim scope negatively impacted due to deleted info from provisional application
  • Limits on trade dress protection when also securing a utility patent
  • Means plus function without the MEANS trigger
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Popular Posts

  • Patent process overview
  • Patent process explained
  • How much does a patent cost?
  • Why patent your invention in a bad economy?

Patent Book

Navigating the Patent System - new book by Orange County patent attorney, James Yang

Navigating the Patent System: Learn the patent process and strategies to protect your invention

Read for Free
Buy at Amazon

RECEIVE PATENT ARTICLES

Stay up to date on major changes and get tips on the patent process.

We respect your privacy.

Popular Posts

Patent process overview
Patent process explained
How much does a patent cost?
Trademark process and costs
Patent process and costs

 

Services

Utility Patents
Design Patents
Patent Prosecution Services
Patent Defense Services
Patent-Law Counsel for In-House Attorneys
Trademark Prosecution Services
See All Services

Industries

Automotive Patents
Consumer Products Patents
Culinary Patents
Manufacturing Patents
Medical Patents
Optics Patents
Software & App Patents
See All Industries

Contact

James Yang
OC Patent Lawyer
2372 Morse Ave., Suite #178
Irvine, CA 92614
Tel: (949) 433-0900

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Sitemaps

Sitemap: Pages | Sitemap: Posts

Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

By accessing this blog, you agree that no attorney-client relationship is formed except by a subsequent written retainer agreement. Also, you agree to not send confidential information unless directed by me to do so. The information posted on this blog is legal information and not legal advice.
Complete Terms of Use
Complete Privacy Policy

ADA Compliance

OC Patent Lawyer aims to ensure that its services are accessible to people with disabilities.
Accessibility Statement

Service Area

From our office in Irvine, California, we serve clients from all areas within Orange County and Los Angeles County, California.

© 2023 · James Yang, Your Entrepreneur and Mid-Size Business Patent Attorney