Are drawings always necessary for a patent application?
Drawings are not always necessary for a patent application, but they are required when essential for understanding the invention. According to the MPEP, 35 U.S.C. 113 (first sentence) in turn provides that an ‘applicant shall furnish a drawing where necessary for the understanding of the subject matter sought to be patented.’
The USPTO has specific practices for determining when drawings might not be necessary, such as for certain process claims, composition applications, and situations where the invention resides solely in the use of a particular material in an otherwise known article or system.
To learn more:
Topics:
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure