Legal Definitions - claim limitation

In the context of patent law, a claim limitation refers to a specific way an inventor describes a component or aspect of their invention within a patent application. Rather than detailing the exact physical structure, specific materials, or precise steps involved, a claim limitation describes what a component does or its intended function. This approach allows the patent to cover any structure that performs the specified function, provided it is equivalent to the structure described in the patent's detailed written description. These limitations are vital because they precisely define the scope of the invention, setting it apart from existing technologies, known as "prior art."

• Example 1: A Novel Beverage Dispenser

  Imagine a patent application for an innovative beverage dispenser. Instead of specifying "a solenoid valve made of brass and rubber," a patent claim might include "a means for selectively releasing liquid."

  Explanation: This example illustrates a claim limitation because it describes the function (selectively releasing liquid) without detailing the exact structure (e.g., whether it's a solenoid valve, a pinch valve, or a rotary valve). The patent would then cover any mechanism that performs this function, as long as it's equivalent to what the inventor described in the patent's detailed drawings and written description.

• Example 2: An Advanced Robotic Arm

  Consider a patent for a new type of robotic arm designed for delicate assembly tasks. A claim might state, "a means for precisely manipulating small components."

  Explanation: Here, the limitation focuses on the function of precisely manipulating components, rather than specifying the exact structure or technology used, such as a specific type of gripper, a vacuum suction cup, or a magnetic end-effector. This broad functional description allows the patent to potentially cover various structural implementations that achieve the same manipulation purpose.

• Example 3: A Smart Home Environmental Control System

  Let's look at a patent for a system that automatically adjusts a home's environment. A claim could include "a means for regulating indoor temperature based on external conditions."

  Explanation: This limitation describes the function of regulating temperature based on external factors, without specifying the particular sensors, algorithms, or heating/cooling units used to achieve it. This functional language allows the patent to encompass different technological methods that perform the same environmental regulation function, as long as they are equivalent to the specific examples provided in the patent's detailed description.