Are multiple claims allowed in a design patent application?
No, multiple claims are not allowed in a design patent application. The MPEP is very clear on this point. As stated in MPEP 1503.01:
More than one claim is neither required nor permitted.
This requirement applies to both design patent applications filed under 35 U.S.C. chapter 16 and international design applications designating the United States. The single claim should be in formal terms to the ornamental design for the article as shown, or as shown and described if the specification includes a descriptive statement.
This differs from utility patent applications, which often contain multiple claims. The single claim requirement in design patents reflects the nature of design protection, which is focused on the overall ornamental appearance of an article rather than its functional features.
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