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If you want the help of a trained professional—and we’ll always point out situations in which we think that’s a good idea—consult an attorney licensed to practice in your state. 5th Edition How to Make Patent Drawings A Patent It Yourself Companion By Patent Agent Jack Lo and Patent Attorney David Pressman fifth Edition july 2007 Editor richard stim illustrations jack lo & tErri hEarsh cover and Book design susan putnEy proofreader Emily k. wolman index songBird indExing sErvicEs printing consolidatEd printErs, inc. lo, jack. how to make patent drawings: a patent it yourself companion/ by jack lo and david pressman. -- 5th ed. p. cm. includes bibliographical references and index. isBn-13: 978-1-4133-0653-8 (pbk.) isBn-10: 1-4133-0653-5 (pbk.) 1. patents--united states--drawings. i. pressman, david, 1937- ii. title. t223.u3l6 2007 608'.022--dc22 2007003641 copyright © 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005, and 2007 by jack lo & david pressman. all rights rEsErvEd. printEd in thE usa. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission. reproduction prohibitions do not apply to the forms c ontained in this product when reproduced for personal use. Quantity sales: for information on bulk purchases or corporate premium sales, please contact the special sales department. for academic sales or textbook adoptions, ask for academic sales. call 800-955-4775 or write to nolo, 950 parker street, Berkeley, ca 94710. Acknowledgments i am most grateful to david pressman for being a friend and mentor, whose generous support has been truly invaluable. i also thank the staff at nolo, including stephanie harolde and steve Elias for their suggestions, and terri hearsh for her help in incorporating the drawings. —Jack Lo Thanks to jack lo for his excellent drawing skills, computer knowledge, sound ideas, and friendship. Thanks also to everyone at nolo for their invaluable help and suggestions. —David Pressman Table of Contents Your Legal Companion for How to Make Patent Drawings 1 General Introduction to Drawing Different Drawing Views .........................................................................................................4 Perspective Foreshortening ...............................................................................................10 Drawing With a Pen, Ruler, and Instruments ...........................................................11 Drawing With a Computer.................................................................................................14 Using a Camera .........................................................................................................................16 Summary ......................................................................................................................................17 2 Drawing With Pen, Ruler, and Instruments Necessary Tools and Supplies ...........................................................................................21 Basic Drawing Rules and Techniques ............................................................................24 Tracing Photographs and Objects ..................................................................................26 Drawing From Your Imagination ....................................................................................31 Drawing to Scale ......................................................................................................................34 Drawing Different View Angles........................................................................................37 Drawing Graphical Symbols ..............................................................................................43 Practice, Practice, Practice ..................................................................................................46 3 Drawing With a Computer Necessary Equipment and Software .............................................................................48 Drawing From Scratch With 2D ......................................................................................55 Making Drawings by Tracing Photos ............................................................................63 Drawing With 3D CAD .........................................................................................................66 Drawing Graphical Symbols ..............................................................................................72 Retaining Your Drawings .....................................................................................................74 Summary ......................................................................................................................................74 4 Using a Camera Advantages and Disadvantages .......................................................................................76 Inventions Suited for Photography ................................................................................76 Photographs Must Show Invention Clearly ..............................................................77 Equipment ...................................................................................................................................77 Taking Pictures ..........................................................................................................................77 Summary ......................................................................................................................................81 5 Patent Drawings in General The Drawing Requirement .................................................................................................84 If No Drawing Is Submitted With a Patent Application .....................................85 Three Types of Patent Drawings ......................................................................................85 Formal and Informal Drawings ........................................................................................86 Engineering Drawings Are Not Suitable .....................................................................90 6 Utility Patent Drawings Amount of Detail Required ...............................................................................................93 Types of Views ...........................................................................................................................99 Inventions With Moving Parts .......................................................................................116 Shading ........................................................................................................................................127 Graphical Symbols ................................................................................................................127 Multiple Embodiments ......................................................................................................141 Line Types and Width .........................................................................................................141 7 Design Patent Drawings Amount of Detail Required .............................................................................................148 Views Required .......................................................................................................................148 Drawings Must Show All Features ...............................................................................149 Parts Behind Transparent Surfaces ..............................................................................152 Movable Parts ..........................................................................................................................152 Surface Markings ...................................................................................................................157 Unclaimed Matter .................................................................................................................157 Shading Techniques ............................................................................................................157 Representation of Color and Material .......................................................................163 Line Types ..................................................................................................................................168 Photographs .............................................................................................................................169 Multiple Embodiments ......................................................................................................169