What information is contained in a patent?

By Jason SchwentThe Patent Billy Goat Blog

www.thompsoncoburn.com/patentbillygoat

First page of a patent

Background and identifying information about the patent

First page of a patent

This will include (among other aspects):• Patent number and the date the patent issued • Inventor’s (or lead inventor’s) last name • List of all the inventors of the patent (as well as

the towns where they lived at the time of filing the application)

• Patent application number and date the application was first filed

Drawings, prior art

Illustrations show various iterations of the technology covered by the patent

Drawings, prior art

Includes numbered references to relevant parts of the technology

Written description

Two columns Numbered lines of text Describes each

reference number in drawings

Written description

Provides the teaching & description necessary to allow a “person having average skill in the relevant technology” to make the patented invention work without undue experimentation

Claims

Most important part of a patent

Describes the precise technology covered by the patent

Invalidity & infringement hinge on the claims

Questions?

Jason Schwentjschwent@thompsoncoburn.com

314.552.6291@STLPatent

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