What Are You Doing Wrong With Your Mechanical Patent Application?
The process of inventing can seem simple compared to what it takes to obtain a patent. However, if you want to protect your mechanical invention, you must go through the process. Mistakes in applying for the patent could lead to a delay or rejection. To avoid this, here are mistakes to avoid.
Failing to Include Required Drawings
As part of the patent process, you will have to submit drawings of your mechanical invention. The drawings must be an illustration of the specifications detailed in your descriptive of your invention. If not, your application could be denied.
Before submitting your drawings, ensure they meet the requirements of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The requirements depend on whether you are submitting black and white or color illustrations. Black and white drawings are preferred, but you can submit color drawings with an explanation as to why it was necessary for the images to be in color.
Poor Details on the Application
One of the worst mistakes you could make with your patent application is to skimp on the details. If you fail to include enough details, the patent office might decide that it does not have enough information to determine what the invention does and if a patent is warranted.
Failing to include enough details could leave you vulnerable to accusations of patent infringement. Another inventor could use some aspect of your invention and then claim that you were copying his or her work. If you do not have a detailed and dated patent application to show that yours came first, you could be in legal trouble.
Waiting Too Long to Submit Application
Whether you realize it, your application is time-sensitive. At any moment, another inventor could submit his or her application for a mechanical invention that has similar components as yours. If that happens, your application could be denied.
You also must remember that there is a limited amount of time that you can file an application after first publicly disclosing it. Failing to file on time could mean that your invention is unprotected. Anyone could use your ideas to create their own invention and patent it. You would likely not have any legal options to stop the action.
To avoid these mistakes and the others that can occur with a mechanical invention patent, you should consider working with an experienced attorney, such as from Sheri Higgins Law. The attorney can work with you throughout the application and approval process.