CAD Patent Illustration is an important link in the patenting process that provides services for making patent drawings, an important element of the patent description and the patent application. Their role is to support the inventors by providing professionally prepared drawings that describe the essential details of the invention appropriately and correctly as required by the Patent offices like the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), or European patent office (EPO) or Patent Cooperation Treaty application (PCT).
Patent and patent application
A patent is a legal document that protects the interests of the inventors by stopping others from making, using, or selling the invention. A patent can be obtained by the inventor through strenuous mental and physical efforts, devoting valuable time and sleepless nights spent in bringing out the invention (sometimes months and years), scarce financial resources, and any other resource input needed to develop the invention. You can obtain a patent by either doing it yourself. Patent application, among other elements like claims, detailed description (or specifications), background, abstract, and summary, has an important element of drawings, which are to be attached at the time of filing the patent. In this way, you can save money but need to invest time also as the patent is a specialized legal document and experts can get better protection which can stand in a court of law. Or approach a patent attorney specializing in the domain of invention that you have. Also, Read: Cost of Patents in India: All Types of Patent Fees
Patent Drawings
A CAD Patent Illustration is a systematic, scientific, and detailed display of the essential details of the invention or the process developed by the inventor. It is an important part of the patent description. Patent specification is a written description of the invention stating the manner and the process of making and using it. Patent description may take a few lines to a few pages to explain the patent and its claims appropriately but still may lack to describe it fully. Drawings explain the patent, its internal components and shape, materials of construction, and even the bill of materials by providing part numbers that go into the computer memory for quick retrieval. Drawings are concise and comprehensive creation that makes things to its readers simple bringing clarity to the invention and the meaning expected to be conveyed.
What is special about CAD patent illustration?
Patent illustrations are created using CAD software, and are not just any drawings. They are carefully planned, drawn, and presented systematically to provide a clear description of the invention. According to the World Intellectual Patent Organization (WIPO) Patent Drafting Manual, patent drawings are the most important after the patent claims (WIPO). Some of the patent laws require that every claimed element should be shown in the drawing that should explain the invention in sufficient detail. Patent drawings should narrate the story of the description of the invention in a visual, simple to understand sufficient details, parts, and processes for understanding the invention. Drawings should provide the appropriate level of disclosure about the invention to enable the grant of a patent and at the same time should not provide information that can endanger the invention itself. Also, Read: How To Patent an Idea in the USA?
The size and quality of the paper, the ink to be used in drawing the figures, the size of the letters, and the size and place of the arrows in the drawing should meet the standards laid down by the patenting authorities. The contents written on the drawings should be in the proper place and should be short yet convey the message properly. Right symbols, the right numbering of the parts, and the right types of drawings with plan, elevation, and side views as may be required should be used in the patent drawing. Good drawings describe the patent properly detailing the components, their size and shape, and functional and operational aspects in such a manner that an average skilled person can understand the invention. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) specifies all such requirements for making the patent drawings such as the size of the sheet on which the drawing is made, the type of paper, the margins, and the other details. The patent drawings are most appropriately made by specially trained draftsmen using the right tools and soft wares. You can refer to the full list of rules at https://rightpatents.com/international-patent-application-pct-drawing-requirements/
The Patent Illustration Service Providers
The CAD Patent Illustration Service Providers are specialized agencies that are experts in making patent drawings using modern, very costly, and difficult-to-afford tools and soft wares. They use paid tools for making the patent drawings, whenever needed. They are experts in the patenting process and the rules of different patenting authorities. They have experience in dealing with the patent examiner’s requirements. They exactly know what should be put in the patent drawing about the invention and also what is to be avoided. They produce simple, comprehensive, complete, effective, and compliant drawings. They are experts in effectively responding to the objections from the patent office and can correct the rejected drawings. Also, Read: Patent Drawing Requirements in the USPTO, EPO [Latest Guidelines]
When to hire a CAD Patent Illustration Service Provider?
It is always better to assign the preparation of patent drawings to CAD Patent Illustration Service Providers, who will assist the inventor in planning the type of drawings needed, and the number of drawing sheets to be used in preparing the drawings correctly and accurately describing the patent. The involvement of PISP is needed right from the time of writing the description of the patent. CAD Patent Illustration Service Provider should understand the invention in detail and present the ideas in the patent drawing highlighting the patent claims. Also, Read: Patent Design Drawings for Car Interior
Is hiring a CAD Patent Illustration Service Provider cost-effective?
Although many inventors may be hesitant initially to hire CAD Patent Illustration Service Providers for the purpose purely on cost considerations, hiring the right CAD Patent Illustration Service Providers can save lots of time, sometimes months and years. The time saving comes from faster and correct preparation of drawings that meet the requirements of the concerned patenting authority. Even if one query is raised by the patent examiner or the patent application is rejected due to inadequacies of the drawings, the additional cost to the inventor will be many times higher than the fees to be paid to the CAD Patent Illustration Service Provider for providing the service. The total cost of preparation of patent drawings by the CAD Patent Illustration Service Provider is very low and cost-effective.
References
WIPO. WIPO Patent Drafting Manual., wipo_pub_867
USPTO.2002. Guide for Preparation of Patent Drawings.