Are applicants required to submit sketches of claim structure?

No, applicants are not required to submit sketches of claim structure. MPEP 904.01(a) explicitly states that “an applicant will not be required to submit such sketches of claim structure.” This provision is based on the decision in In re Application filed November 16, 1945, 89 USPQ 280, 1951 C.D. 1, 646 O.G. 5 (Comm’r Pat. 1951). The responsibility for creating sketches or diagrams to visualize variant embodiments lies with the patent examiner, not the applicant.

To learn more:

• patent application
• claim structure
• sketches
• applicant requirements