Law - Nature of the Invention

In broad terms, what is it that you invented?

Present a brief summary of the inventive concept(s). The nature and gist of the inventive concept(s) should be set forth in broad statements. These statements may paraphrase and amplify the broadest claims. When a patent application is filed, this information will become a part of the Summary of the Invention section.

In its entirety, the Summary of the Invention section provides a summary of the information upon which a determination of the utility, novelty, and unobviousness of the invention can be based. If a reading of this section does not convince the patent examiner that the invention meets the criteria of patentability, then that difficult task will have to be accomplished during prosecution of the application.

It is also effective to provide a listing of the elements (or steps) of the embodiment (version) of the invention described in the broadest (least limited) claim. Examples should be provided of means for accomplishing functions recited in the broadest claims.

The position of the USPTO on this issue is described in the following section(s) of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP):

MPEP 608.01(d) - Brief Summary of the Invention
MPEP 608.01(a) - Arrangement of Application
MPEP 2162 - Policy Underlying 35 U.S.C. 112, First Paragraph
MPEP 2163 - The Written Description Requirement
MPEP 2163.01 - Support for the Claimed Subject Matter in Disclosure
MPEP 2163.02 - Standard for Determining Compliance With the Written Description Requirement


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