What are linking claims in patent applications?

Linking claims are special claims in patent applications that link inventions in different categories. According to MPEP 809:

“Linking claims and the inventions they link together are usually either all directed to products or all directed to processes (i.e., a product claim linking properly divisible product inventions, or a process claim linking properly divisible process inventions).”

Linking claims help establish the connection between related inventions that may otherwise be subject to a restriction requirement.

To learn more:

• linking claims
• patent applications
• restriction requirements