Clam Drafting - Part 2 - Anatomy of a Device or Apparatus Claim. Episode 10

Understanding Claim Drafting

In the last episode, I talked about the process of identifying your invention. Before drafting claims, you must first understand what your invention is. Now that you’ve figured that out, I’ll go over the parts of a claim so you can begin constructing one.

Three Main Parts of a Claim

A claim consists of three main parts:

1. The preamble – An introduction that briefly describes the invention.

2. The transition word – A key term that defines the scope of the claim.

3. The limitations – The structural or functional elements that define the invention.

The Preamble

The preamble is a short description of what your invention is used for.

Examples from Avocado Slicer Patents

If you look up avocado slicer patents, you’ll see preambles such as:

• A fruit tool

• A tool for slicing avocados

• An avocado pitting device

• A tool for use on an avocado

In general, the preamble does not limit your claim.

Example of Why Preambles Matter

• Suppose your preamble is “An avocado pitting device”.

• Someone copies your device but markets it as a peach pitting device.

• Could they argue they don’t infringe your patent because your claim only applies to avocados?

• In most cases, no, because preambles are generally not limiting.

However, there are exceptions where preambles have been used to limit claims. To be safe, keep your preamble broad, while still describing the intended purpose.

Examples of Broad Preambles

• Screwdriver Invention:

  • A screwdriver

  • A multiple-bit screwdriver

  • A device for driving screws

• Flashlight Invention:

  • A flashlight

The preamble should start with “a” followed by the intended purpose of the invention.

The Transition Word

The transition word defines the claim’s scope. The most common transition word is:

• “Comprising” – This means the invention includes the listed limitations but can include additional elements.

⚠️ Do NOT use “comprising OF” – it is incorrect.

Other transition words:

• “Consisting of” – This means the invention only includes the listed limitations and nothing more (very restrictive and should only be used with caution).

• “Consisting essentially of” – Allows minor unlisted variations but is still restrictive.

• “Having” or “Including” – Less commonly used but acceptable.

For most inventions, “comprising” is the safest and most flexible choice. Follow it with a colon to introduce the limitations.

The Limitations (Elements)

After the transition word and colon, list the specific elements that make up your invention. These are legally called limitations, though you might hear them referred to as elements interchangeably.

When drafting limitations:

• Don’t include unnecessary elements – A competitor might remove one part to avoid infringement.

• Be broad but specific enough to define the invention.

Example: Avocado Slicer Claim (U.S. Patent 8,726,799, Claim 16)

To see an example, go to Google Patents, search U.S. Patent 8,726,799, and look at Claim 16.

Quick Recap of the Avocado Slicer

• A splitting blade at one end.

• A handle in the middle.

• A dome with projections that jab into and remove the avocado pit.

• A fan of blades at the other end to slice the avocado into multiple slices.

Breaking Down Claim 16

1. Preamble: “An avocado pitting device”

2. Transition Word: “Comprising:”

3. Limitations:

   • A handle;

   • A first blade member;

   • A second blade member;

   • At least two spaced-apart members.

Each limitation is separated by a semicolon (;), and the last limitation usually includes “and” before the comma (e.g., “and, at least two spaced-apart members”).

⚠️ Claims must be ONE sentence – No matter how long, a claim cannot be broken into multiple sentences.

Using “A” vs. “The” in Claims

• First time introducing an element → Use “a”

  • Example: “A handle”

• Referring to an already-introduced element → Use “the”

  • Example: “The handle is coupled to the first end section of the handle.”

If you misuse these words, the examiner may reject your claim for lack of proper antecedent basis.

Understanding How Elements Relate

• The first limitation usually describes the main component (e.g., “A handle”).

• Subsequent limitations describe how parts connect to each other.

• Sometimes, you include functional descriptions, but be cautious. Anything you say can be used against you in court.

Why Use “At Least” in Claims?

• The illustration shows multiple fan blades, but the claim only requires one blade.

• Instead of saying “six blades”, the inventor wrote “at least one blade”.

• This prevents competitors from avoiding infringement by using five blades instead of six.

The Final Limitation

• Last limitation in Claim 16:

  • “At least two spaced-apart engagement members interposed between the first and second blade members.”

• These are the projections in the dome that jab into the avocado pit for removal.

Summary of Claim 16’s Structure

• Preamble: Describes the general invention.

• Transition Word: Defines how inclusive the claim is.

• Limitations: List the necessary elements and how they relate.

Claim 16 is an independent claim because it does not reference any other claims. There are also dependent claims, which I will cover in a future episode.

Next Steps: Method Claims

This episode covered the anatomy of a claim for a physical device. However, inventions involving processes require method claims, which follow a different structure.

In the next episode, I will discuss how to write method claims. If you need help drafting your patent application and claims, I offer these services through Diament Patent Law.

You can contact me at patentingforinventors.com. I’m Adam Diament—until next time, keep on inventing!