A patent illustrator is an artist who can create a sketch to express an idea or concept with his imagination and conceptual knowledge. Since drawings are a critical component of a patent application, patent illustrators help applicants to create an effective and clear illustration of their invention to strengthen the application. However, one must carefully identify a professional illustrator who can carry out these tasks effectively. The following article explains the parameters based on which businesses can identify these professionals. But first, let’s understand the importance of a professional patent illustrator and the patent drawing rules he must adhere to.

The Need for Professional Patent Illustrators

There are several patent drawing rules stipulated by patent offices. So, inventors must ensure that the patent illustrator/company that they are commissioning the drawing to is adequately experienced. There are different patent drawing rules and regulations which they should know before filing a patent in any jurisdiction. Some of them are:

• The size of the paper shall be A4, viz. 210 mm x 297 mm or 8 1/2 by 11 inches ( it is de-facto North-American standard).
  
• The illustrator must ensure a minimum margin of 2 cm at the top, bottom, and sides of each sheet, and one of 2.5 cm on the left side of every sheet.

• Non-script type font should be used for the text. For example, one can use fonts like Arial, Times Roman, or Courier. Similarly, the font size should preferably be 12. The lettering style should have capital letters which must be at least 0.3175 cm (0.125 inches) high. But it shouldn’t be smaller than 0.21 cm.

Apart from these, there are several other patent drawing rules which illustrators must consider while filing a patent. Applicants can file a non-provisional patent application without illustrations but it is not recommended. This is because a professional patent illustrator can reduce the overall costs of patent filing and minimizes the possibility of receiving an office action.

Things to Look for While Identifying Professional Patent Illustrators

A person who is well-versed with the requirements of patent offices of various jurisdictions and common examiner rejections, can be termed as a professional patent illustrator. Some points to identify a professional illustrator have been listed in the figure below.

1. Knowledge of Patent Office Rules: A professional patent illustrator should know all the rules and regulations to meet standards and specifications for different patent offices like the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Patent Cooperation Treaty, etc. An illustrator’s familiarity with patent regulatory norms helps him understand the nuances of patent drawings and thereby minimize the possibility of mistakes.

2. Technical Knowledge: A professional patent illustrator should know how to meld art and mechanics to create meticulous work using different types of software like AutoCAD, CorelDraw, etc. Also, the professional should be able to comprehend the principles of an invention to demonstrate it descriptively to aid the examiner’s understanding. Lastly, an illustrator must have knowledge of 3D drawings and extracting various views, internal features details, section view of 3D files from the source file.

3. Vivid Imagination: Applicants must make sure that they partner with a patent illustrator who has a vivid imagination to accurately execute customer expectations for their innovative product. It helps innovators to avoid delays and unwarranted issues during the examination stage at the patent office.

4. Effective Communication Skills: Oftentimes, simple patent illustrations do not need discussions and iterations. However, in case of complex inventions, communication plays a critical role. For instance, the illustrator might have some questions pertaining to the source material provided. So, in order to save time and minimize possibilities of mistakes in patent drawings, an illustrator should be able to effectively communicate all requirements to the innovator. Furthermore, illustrators can suggest additions and improvements in figures based on the patent process.

Conclusion

Patent drawings are one of the critical components of a patent application. Illustrations not only simplify the descriptions of the invention in a patent application but also enhance the chances of a patent grant. However, applicants must carefully select a professional patent illustrator in order to leverage patent drawings completely.

If you are looking for a professional patent illustrator, explore Sagacious IP’s patent illustration/drawing services. We have a team of professional patent illustrators who provide all types of patent drawings – design, utility, and trademark. The team holds expertise in various technical domains such as mechanical, medical and electrical, and offers cost-effective patent drawing solutions.

-Rishabh Arora (Illustration) and the Editorial Team

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