Hot Tip It will be a lot easier for you to understand the following instructions on how to apply for a design

patent, if you read a few issued design patents first. Please take a look at Design Patent D436,119 as an example before proceeding. This example includes the front page and three pages of drawing sheets. Writng Your Specification - Choice One - Begin with an Optional Preamble A preamble (if included) should state the name of the inventor, the title of the design, and a brief description of the nature and intended use of the invention that the design is connected to. All the information contained in the preamble will be printed on the patent if it is granted. Example: Using an Optional Preamble I, John Doe, have invented a new design for a jewelry cabinet, as set forth in the following specification. The claimed jewelry cabinet is used to store jewelry and could sit on a bureau. Writng Your Specification - Choice Two - Begin with a Single Claim You may choose not to write a detailed preamble in your design patent application, however, you must write one claim. Design Patent D436,119 uses a single claim. You will submit all bibliographic information such as the inventor's name by using an application data sheet or ADS. An ADS is the common method for submitting bibliographic data about a patent application. Example: Using a Single Claim The ornamental design for eyeglasses, as shown and described. Writing the Single Claim All design patent application may only include a single claim. The claim defines the design which applicant wishes to patent. The claim must be written in formal terms. The ornamental design for [fill in] as shown. What you "fill in" should be consistent with the title of your invention, it is the object which the design has been applied to or embodied in. When there is a properly included special description of the design in the specification, or a proper showing of modified forms of the design, or other descriptive matter has been included in the specification, the words and described should be added to the claim following the term shown. The ornamental design for [fill in) as shown and described. Choosing the Title The title of the design must identify the invention that the design is connected to by its most common name used by the public. Marketing designations are improper as titles and should not be used. A title descriptive of the actual article is recommended. A good title helps the person that is examining your patent know where to/not to search for prior art, and helps with the proper classification of the design patent if it is granted. It also helps the understanding of the nature and use of your invention embodying the design.

Examples of Titles 1: Jewelry cabinet 2: Concealed jewelry cabinet 3: Panel for a jewelry accessory cabinet 4: Eyeglasses

Specification - Include Cross References Any cross-references to related patent applications should be stated (unless already included in the application data sheet). Specification - State any Federal Research Make a statement regarding any federally sponsored research or development if any. Specification - Writing the Figure Descriptions of Drawings Views The figure descriptions of the drawings included with the application tells what each view represents. Example: FIG.1 is a perspective view of eyeglasses showing my new design; FIG.2 is a front elevational view thereof; FIG.3 is a rear elevational view thereof; FIG.4 is a side elevational view, the opposite side being a mirror image thereof; FIG.5 is a top view thereof; and, FIG.6 is a bottom view thereof. Specification - Writing any Special Descriptions (Optional) Any description of the design in the specification, other than a brief description of the drawing, is generally not necessary since, as a general rule, the drawing is the design's best description. However, while not required, a special description is not prohibited. In addition to the figure descriptions, the following types of special descriptions are permissible in the specification: 1. 2. 3. 4. A description of the appearance of portions of the claimed design which are not illustrated in the drawing disclosure (i.e., the right side elevational view is a mirror image of the left side). Description disclaiming portions of the article not shown, that form no part of the claimed design. Statement indicating that any broken line illustration of environmental structure in the drawing is not part of the design sought to be patented. Description denoting the nature and environmental use of the claimed design, if not included in the preamble.