Patent Illustrations are very essential part for the patent. Patent illustrations are visual representations of the invention, product and equipment to understand easily. Further, patent Illustrations/Drawings should be self-explanatory to depict the invention or utility of the invention/product unambiguously.

The main reason for rejection of patent applications are incorrect drawings. Examiners heavily rely on the drawings to understand the invention, product and equipment. If the drawings are unclear or incorrect, they can lead the rejection of the patent. Thus, it is essential that the patent drawings are accurate, clear, and comply with the PTO’s guidelines.

Guidelines

Different patent offices, such as the USPTO, PCT, CNIPA etc. have different guidelines for the patent drawings, for example, in USPTO dashed lines and shading lines can be shown in design patent application, whereas in CNIPA, use of shading lines and dashed lines are prohibited. However, some patent offices share the common guidelines i.e. USPTO and PCT. Only differences between the PCT and USPTO is that in PCT, drawings can be only submitted in A4 page size whereas USPTO allows both letter size paper or A4 size paper to submit the drawings.

Utility Patent Drawings

Text Height and margins:

One of the most common errors that often lead to office actions is the size or height of the font, which has to be at least 0.32cm. Any text or reference character less than 0.32cm in size is not permitted and can lead to rejections of drawings.

Similarly, drawings should be drafted within the margin prescribed by the PTO.

Number of sheets

All the sheets contained in the USPTO application shall be numbered in consecutive Arabic numerals – where the numbers shall be centered at the top or bottom of the sheet, e.g., 1/7, 2/7, 3/7 … and so on.

Line Quality

Poor line quality in drawings is another common reason for rejection by patent offices, therefore, it is suggested that the lines used for drafting the drawing is in durable black color; uniformly thick and well defined.

Also, drawings need further reproduction, therefore, it is necessary for the drawings to be clear and with uniform line thickness.

Clarity and Completeness

The images or sketches should not be filed directly to the office. There should be a proper black and white line drawing, which is highly preferred by almost all of the judiciaries. Patent drawings should clearly depict the invention from all angles, showing every important detail. It is important to ensure that the drawings are neat, understandable, and free of ambiguity. Missing parts or unclear features can lead to rejection by the patent examiner.

Greyscale Drawings

Not all patent offices permit photographs to be used instead of black and white line drawings. However, there are some jurisdictions, including the USPTO, WIPO, etc., where photographs are permitted. Photographs can only be used in black and white or greyscale, if they are the only practical medium to disclose the invention. For example – cell diagrams, plants, or microorganisms cannot be achieved via line drawings. If a drawing can be shown with lines, then the PTO will object to the greyscale drawings. So, it is always better to create the line art form of the drawings.

Views

The patent drawings must contain as many views as necessary to show the invention, such as:

· Perspective View
· Isometric View
· Plan views
· Detailed View/ Enlarged View
· Partial View
· Sectional View
· Partial Sectional View
· Exploded View
· Assembled View

Design Patent Drawings

Differentiation of Claimed and Disclaimed Portions

Structure that is not part of the claimed design, but is considered necessary to show the environment in which the design is used, may be represented in the drawing by broken lines and known as disclaimed part. The Broken lines should not come over or cross the claimed design portion and for differentiation of the broken lines clearly from solid lines the line weight of the broken lines should not be kept heavier than of the claimed area.

The Views

The design's claims can be understood by showing all necessary views that fully disclose its appearance, including Front view, Rear view, Left and Right Side view, Top view, Bottom view and a Perspective view. In some applications if single perspective view doesn’t show the appearance of the claimed design extra perspective view can be added to show all areas of claimed portions.

Projections and Scaling

Unlike utility patents, in design patents the drawings fully rely on the Projections and scaling of the views and drawings should be consistent throughout the set. The scaling of all the standard views should be same with respect to each other.

Surface shading

All surfaces of the claimed design should be appropriately and in acceptable manner. Surface shading should be given in claimed portion of the design only. Shading should be given in such manner that it shows the character and contour of all surface clearly, for better visibility and differentiation of solid and shading lines the line weight of the shading lines should be kept lighter than of the solid lines.

Conclusion

In conclusion, avoiding rejection in patent illustrations requires attention to detail, adherence to guidelines, and a focus on clarity and accuracy. By following these essential points, you can increase the chances of your patent application being approved and protect your invention effectively. It's crucial to remember that patent drawings are an essential part of the patent application process, and investing time and effort can help eliminate the possibility of rejections.

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