What should be included in the brief description of drawings for a patent application?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

The brief description of drawings for a patent application should include:

• A reference to each figure by number (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2)
• A brief explanation of what each figure depicts

According to MPEP 608.01(f): The specification must contain or be amended to contain a brief description of the several views of the drawings.

It’s important to note that this section should be concise and not include detailed descriptions of the drawings, which belong in the Detailed Description section.