The rules we draw to
Most drawing objections come from small things: a margin a few millimetres short, lines too faint to reproduce, a numeral missing from one view. Every sheet we deliver is checked against the rules below.
USPTO, EPO and PCT requirements
| Requirement | What we deliver |
|---|---|
| Standards | USPTO 37 CFR 1.84 & 1.152, EPO, PCT |
| Sheet size | A4 (21.0 × 29.7 cm) or Letter (8.5 × 11 in) |
| Margins | Top 2.5 · Left 2.5 · Right 1.5 · Bottom 1.0 cm |
| Line work | Uniform weight, black, dense enough to reproduce |
| Reference numerals | At least 0.32 cm (1/8 in) highConsistent across every view |
| Resolution | 300 DPI minimum, every format |
| Colour | Black & whiteColour drawings when the office allows them |
| Design views | 7 views at consistent scaleSolid lines claim, broken lines disclaim |
Details we check on every sheet
Sheet numbering
Sheets numbered consecutively, such as 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3, at the top centre.
Figure labels
Views numbered in order with the abbreviation FIG., larger than the reference numerals.
Reference characters
At least 0.32 cm (1/8 in) high, never placed on hatching or shading.
Lead lines
Short, thin lines from each numeral to its part, never crossing each other.
Minimal text
Only the words a figure needs, such as labels in a flow chart or block diagram.
Readable scale
Large enough to read every element when the sheet is reduced to two-thirds size.
Seven views, one consistent object
A design patent usually needs front, rear, left, right, top, bottom and perspective views. Solid lines show what is claimed. Broken lines show anything that is not, such as the cable on this speaker.
Have figures due? Get a quote within 24 hours.
Send us what you have, sketches, photos or CAD, and we’ll come back with a price and a delivery date.