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11 Patent Drawing Blunders That'll Kill Your App (And How to Steer Clear)

Patent Drawing Blunders
Patent Drawing Blunders

Imagine this: You've invested months fine-tuning your gizmo, thousands of dollars on patent lawyers, and a gazillion hours crafting the ideal patent application. Then splash  your app is rejected on account of a five-second drawing mistake. I've witnessed it happen far too many times. 


Great innovators with revolutionising concepts are sidetracked by something as mundane as a misplaced line thickness or overlooked reference number. It's tragic, and it's entirely preventable.


Here's the thing about patent drawings: they're not pretty pictures to make your application look good. They're documents that can make or break your whole patent. One little error and your examiner could reject your application or – worse – issue you a patent that doesn't actually cover what you created.

Let me guide you through the 11 most typical drawing errors I encounter (and believe me, I've seen them all), along with exactly how to correct them before they set you back your patent.



1. The "Oops, What's That Thing?" Problem (Missing Reference Numbers)

What occurs: You send gorgeous drawings, but half the components lack numbers, or the numbers do not correspond to what's included in your written description.

Why it kills your application: Patent examiners are not mind readers. If they are unable to determine what "23" is referring to because it is not marked on your drawing, they cannot comprehend your invention. No comprehension = no patent. The solution: Each and every component referred to in your allegations must have a reference number in your drawings. And those reference numbers have to be identical in your drawings and your written explanation. Yeah, it's boring. Yeah, it's completely necessary.

2. The "I Drew This on a Napkin" Syndrome

What occurs: You provide sketches by hand, fuzzy scans, or drawings that appear to have been created with an unstable mouse.


Why it's a problem: Patent offices have professional standards. Your drawing must be clean enough that it can be printed in the official patent gazette without appearing as abstract art.


Reality check: If you wouldn't be comfortable with showing your drawing to a potential investor, it's likely not good enough for the patent office either. Professional vector drawings aren't something you can do without – they're necessary.

3. The "But It Looks So Much Better in Color!" Blunder

What happens: You send over stunning, full-color drawings with gradients and artistic shading because you want your invention to be intimidating.


Why it backfires: Most patent offices won't take color drawings unless you petition (and pay extra fees) for them to do so. Even if you do petition successfully, your lovely color drawing could still get printed out in black and white anyway.


The smart strategy: Resist the temptation to use color line drawings unless color absolutely needs to be used to see your invention. Reserve the graphics for your advertising materials.

4. The "Close Enough" Formatting Catastrophe

What goes wrong: You present drawings with the incorrect paper size, margins, or tiny text that can't be read.


Why it's fatal: Patent offices are extremely finicky about formatting. Draw your drawing on A4 paper when they want letter size? Rejected. 1-inch margins instead of 1.5-inch?Rejected. Your invention doesn't need to be good if your formatting is bad.


The obsessive-compulsive method that works: Double-check every formatting requirement for your individual patent office. Then double-check again. Seriously, use a ruler to measure your margins if you have to.

5. The "I Think They'll Figure It Out" View Problem


What you do: You send one or two sketches that don't entirely describe what your invention does or what it looks like from every angle.


Why it's not enough: Patent examiners must be able to see your whole invention, not just the parts that you're highlighting as important. If they can't figure out how all the pieces interact with each other, they can't decide whether or not your invention is genuinely new and non-obvious.


The complete solution: Draw every view required to describe your invention: front, back, top, bottom, sides, cross-sections, exploded views – whatever it takes to present the full picture.

6. The "Shape-Shifting Components" Mistake

What goes wrong: The same component appears differently in various views – perhaps it's round in one drawing but square in another.


Why it's confusing: The examiners will think you're displaying distinct pieces, which can mislead them into not understanding your whole invention. Consistency is not only a good thing to do; it's necessary for clarity.


The precision fix: Each piece must look identical in every view. That's where professional CAD software is your new best friend.

7. The "Squinting at Tiny Text" Problem

What it does: You employ novelty fonts, reduce text to illegible size, or select fonts that are difficult to read.


Why it's failing: Patent offices have rules about text size and font. If your examiners can't read your reference numbers, your drawing is worthless.


The readable solution: Employ plain, uncluttered fonts at the proper size. Dull? Guilty. Successful? You bet.

8. The "Look at My Cool Logo!" Blunder

What you do: You add your company logo, brand names, or other identification marks to your patent drawings.


Why it's a bad idea: Patent drawings are about your invention alone, not your marketing. Adding branding muddles the patent office as to what you're really trying to protect.


The targeted approach: Remove all that isn't necessary to describe your invention. Your patent drawing is not a business card.

9. The "Just Use This Photo" Shortcut

What goes wrong: You send photos, screenshots, or 3D renderings rather than proper line drawings.


Why it typically fails: Line drawings are what most patent offices demand, not photos. Even if photos are accepted, they tend to necessitate special petitions and extra charges.


The correct conversion: Convert your photos and 3D models to clean line drawings acceptable to the patent office. It takes more effort initially, but it avoids headaches down the road.

10. The "Everything Must Fit on One Page" Cramming


What happens: You attempt to illustrate your whole complicated invention in one congested drawing.


Why it's counterproductive: Cluttered drawings confuse examiners so they cannot tell your various components apart or see how your invention functions.


The systematic approach: Separate your invention into rational, distinct figures. Several concise drawings are a million times better than a single confusing jumble.

11. The "Good Enough" Mentality

What goes wrong: You produce sketches that comply technically with the minimum, but fail to effectively convey the important aspects of your invention.


Why it's short-sighted: Patent authorities value professionalism and clarity. Good-quality drawings may actually accelerate the examination process.


The strategic mindset: Consider your drawings as arguments in pictures for why your invention is worthy of a patent. Each line must have a reason. The Real Cost of Getting It Wrong.



This is what occurs if you screw up your patent illustrations:


Patent Application
Patent Illustrations
  • Delays: Your application is held up in examination purgatory while you correct the issues

  • Additional expense: You spend money on new drawings, more attorney time, and perhaps longer prosecution

  • Reduced protection: Badly illustrated patents may not cover what you really made

  • Lost opportunities: While you're making drawing corrections, others may be getting similar patents on the way What Actually Works.


The inventors and businesses that always have their patents issued promptly have learned a few things:


They work the details. Every reference number, every line weight, every margin measurement is important.

They think like examiners. They create drawings that make it easy for patent examiners to understand and pass their inventions.

They pay for quality up front. They'd sooner spend more time and money on immaculate drawings than later experience rejections and delays. They seek professional assistance when necessary. If drawing isn't their specialty, they hire pros who are familiar with the requirements inside and out.

Your Next Move

See here, I understand. Patent drawings may feel like a frustrating technicality when you are enthusiastic about your invention. But let me tell you the reality: these "technicalities" are what distinguish winning patents from costly failures.


If you're a skilled drawer and you have the time to learn all the technical drawing standards, be my guest. But if you're like most inventors – wonderful at creating things, not as thrilled with technical drawing guidelines – look at hiring a professional. Either way, don't let an avoidable drawing error destroy your patent application. Your invention is worth more than that.

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