FYI – Patent Drawings Blog
Design Patent Drawing Views Guide
Put in Perspective
Design Patent Drawings need to depict the claimed design exactly how it appears in real life. This is a challenge when the patent drawing guidelines have specific rules about line weights, shading techniques, and use of color (For advice on following the USPTO’s requirements on design patents, visit our Design Patent Dos and Don’ts blog post). In order for a set of patent drawings to cover the entirety of a design, they must include multiple views from varying angles. In this article, we will introduce the Standard Design Case views, as well as Additional Views and Perspectives that help the examiner understand exactly what design is being patented.
Standard Views
A standard design case contains at least 1 perspective view and 6 orthogonal views.
Perspectives
A perspective view shows depth. It gives the examiner a realistic view of the claim, as if it were physically in front of them.
Orthogonals
Orthogonal views don’t show depth. They appear flat to the examiner, but when placed side by side, offer an encompassing understanding of the design.
Front Perspective
Front and Back
Left and Right
Top and Bottom
Standard Views
A standard design case contains at least 1 perspective view and 6 orthogonal views.
Perspectives
A perspective view shows depth. It gives the examiner a realistic view of the claim, as if it were physically in front of them.
Front Perspective
Orthogonals
Orthogonal views don’t show depth. They appear flat to the examiner, but when placed side by side, offer an encompassing understanding of the design.
Front and Back
Left and Right
Top and Bottom
Additional Views
Extra perspectives, sections, and enlarged views can help the examiner better understand the
scope of a claim.
Extra Perspectives
Additional Perspectives taken from other angles can provide the examiner with an even fuller picture of the design, making the relationships between claimed details clearer.
Back Perspective
Section Views
A section shows what an interior part of an object looks like, as if it had been cut through with a straight line. In patent drawings, a cross-section usually requires different uses of line hatching or stippling to distinguish the different pieces that have been cut. A callout on another figure shows where and in what direction the section faces.
Cross-section and Callout
Enlarged Views
A close-up or enlarged view in a design patent drawing can clarify the intricacies of the design that are not easily shown in other views. A callout on another figure must clarify exactly where in the claim the enlarged view is from.
Enlarged View and Callout
Proofing
It is really important to thoroughly proof design patent drawings. If any element of the design is not consistently shown across drawings and perspectives, the claim can become unclear. One way to ensure accuracy is by creating a projection sheet along with design patent drawings.
Projection Sheet
Projection sheets align each view to their surrounding views with full precision. They are mainly used for internal use and should be removed before filing. They help check the consistency between all views.
Want to see more examples of design patent drawings?
Check out NVG-Inc’s NVGallery! There you will find samples of design patent drawings as individual figures, full drawing sets, and several examples of projection sheets. Our Gallery also features samples of Utility Patent Drawings, Trademark Illustrations, 3-D Models, and more!
Or check out another design patent drawing article:
