What are subcombinations usable together in patent applications?
Subcombinations usable together in patent applications refer to two or more claimed inventions that can be used together in a single combination but are also separately usable. According to MPEP 806.05(d), “Two or more claimed subcombinations, disclosed as usable together in a single combination, and which can be shown to be separately usable, are usually restrictable when the subcombinations do not overlap in scope and are not obvious variants.”
For example, in an application claiming ABC/B/C, where ABC is a combination claim and B and C are subcombinations, B and C might be restrictable if they have separate utility and meet other criteria.
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