Legal Definitions - Squires claim

The term "Squires claim" refers to a patent claim. A patent claim is a critical part of a patent application or a granted patent that precisely defines the boundaries of the invention for which legal protection is sought or obtained. It is a set of carefully worded sentences that describe the unique features, elements, or steps of an invention, distinguishing it from existing technologies (known as "prior art").

Think of a patent claim as the legal fence around an inventor's intellectual property. It specifies exactly what the inventor owns and what others cannot make, use, sell, or import without permission. The wording of these claims is paramount, as it determines the scope of the patent's protection and whether an invention infringes upon another patent.

• Example 1: A Novel Drone Propulsion System

  Imagine an inventor develops a new drone propulsion system that uses a unique combination of counter-rotating propellers and a specific aerodynamic housing to achieve unprecedented flight stability and efficiency. The inventor files a patent application.

  The "Squires claim" (or patent claim) in this application would precisely describe these innovative elements. For instance, it might state: "A drone propulsion system comprising a first propeller rotating clockwise, a second propeller concentrically mounted and rotating counter-clockwise, and an aerodynamic housing of a specific shape 'X' enclosing both propellers, wherein the housing includes vents 'Y' positioned at angles 'Z'."

  This claim clearly defines the specific technical features that make the propulsion system unique and protectable. If another company later develops a drone propulsion system that incorporates all these exact features, they would likely be infringing on the patent because their system falls within the boundaries defined by this "Squires claim."

• Example 2: A New Method for Data Encryption

  Consider a software engineer who invents a novel algorithm for encrypting data that significantly improves security and processing speed compared to existing methods. They seek patent protection for this innovation.

  The "Squires claims" (patent claims) in their patent would detail the specific steps and mathematical operations involved in this new encryption method. For example, a claim might read: "A method for encrypting data, comprising the steps of: (a) dividing a data block into sub-blocks of size 'N'; (b) applying a transformation function 'F' to each sub-block using a key 'K'; and (c) reassembling the transformed sub-blocks according to a permutation scheme 'P'."

  These claims outline the precise sequence and characteristics of the encryption process that are legally protected. If another software company implements an encryption method that uses these exact steps and parameters, they could be found to be infringing the patent, as their method directly matches the scope defined by the "Squires claims."

• Example 3: An Innovative Medical Device for Drug Delivery

  A biomedical engineer designs a new implantable medical device that delivers medication to a patient's bloodstream at a precisely controlled rate using a unique microfluidic pump and a biodegradable reservoir. The engineer applies for a patent.

  The "Squires claims" (patent claims) in the patent application would describe the specific components and their interaction within the device. For instance, a claim might be: "An implantable drug delivery device comprising a biodegradable reservoir configured to hold a therapeutic agent, a microfluidic pump of type 'M' connected to the reservoir, and a sensor 'S' configured to detect a physiological parameter, wherein the pump's flow rate is controlled by the sensor 'S' via a control unit 'C'."

  These claims define the unique combination of elements and their functional relationship that constitute the invention. Any other medical device that incorporates these specific features and operates in the described manner would fall within the scope of protection established by these "Squires claims," potentially leading to patent infringement if unauthorized.