Have you ever come across a product and felt that they had copied your idea? What do you think would be the reason for such a feeling? Well, if I’m not wrong, there might be two reasons behind this issue. First, you might not have patented the idea you ever had. Second, you might not have illustrated well the invented device or the machine in your patent application. If you think that the first case is relatable, you must patent the idea or innovation the next time you create something. But, if you feel that your issue falls in the second category, you must avail top patent illustration services the next time you plan to file a patent application.
In this blog, I’ll let you know about two important things about patent illustration services that you didn’t know before. But before that, I want to let you know the use of cases of patent illustrations and the types of patents, ok?
How many types of patents are there?
1 – Utility patents
These types of patents are granted to the inventor based on the functional parts of the device or the machine they have created. This category of patents covers a whole lot of topics, including invention, discovery, or some useful improvement in a particular machine process. If you run a chemical or pharmaceutical company and want to patent a particular chemical composition, then that also comes in this category.
In simple words, you can understand that a utility patent protects the way your device or machine functions. This is why it is extremely important to illustrate every feature of your invention in the drawings of your patent application. Also, don’t forget to label it nicely, as that will make it easy for the viewers like patent attorneys or examiners to understand your machine’s working.
2 – Design patents
These types of patents mainly focus on the visual appearance of a particular product. This category of patents includes the shape, configuration, or surface decoration of an instrument or apparatus. In the simplest of terms, the design patent protects the way an instrument or apparatus looks. Therefore, it is important for inventors to illustrate the claimed design through a detailed drawing of their invention.
If you wish to draw the way your invention looks, you might not be able to fulfil the drawing requirements by the USPTO. But, if you avail professional patent illustration services, the expert draftsmen will draw the diagrams for your patent application meeting the drawing requirements by USPTO.
3 – Plant patents
These types of patents are issued for a new or distinct plant that has been invented or discovered by the inventor. However, they need to make sure that the plant is capable of asexual reproduction and different from the known plants. Such plants are usually represented through photographs, watercolours, pen, pencils or ink drawings.
Again, you may think of sketching the exact appearance of the plant to the best of your efforts, but you might miss the technicalities that seasoned draftsmen won’t. In that case, you should try establishing contact with the professional patent illustration companies and ask them to help you out with your plant patent drawings.
What are the things you should know about patent drawing services?
1 – Creating patent drawings
When it comes to drawing the diagrams in your patents, you have two choices. Either you do it yourself or approach a well-known drafting technician. However, the best option is to go with a combination of both. Yes, I would suggest you create the illustration of the invention first by yourself. Make sure it conveys your invention clearly, including what it is, how it looks, and how it works.
Once you are satisfied with the visuals, get into conversation with an experienced draftsman and ask them to add the final technical depiction in your illustration to comply with the drawing requirements of USPTO.
2 – Submitting patent drawings
As far as the submission of patent drawings is concerned, they should be submitted in PDF format as per the specific guideline by USPTO. Also, what you need to keep in mind is to check out the details related to margins, page numbering, views, scale, shadings, security markings, and identification indicia.
Take note that all the patent drawings are usually required to be in black ink. But if you think that the device or machine you have created will be represented best in coloured drawing, you need to submit a petition to the USPTO asking for permission for the same.
Final thoughts
Now that you know the importance of professional patent drawing services, remember to reach out to a well-established patent drawing company the next time you need to file a patent application.