Legal Definitions - summary of the invention

The "summary of the invention" is a required section within a U.S. patent application. It briefly outlines the invention's nature, operation, and purpose, providing enough detail for patent examiners and prior art searchers to understand its unique character.

The summary of the invention is a mandatory section within a U.S. patent application. Its primary role is to provide a clear, concise, and comprehensive overview of the invention. This section explains the fundamental nature of the invention, how it operates, and its intended purpose, emphasizing what makes it unique and innovative. It must contain sufficient detail for a patent examiner and others researching existing technologies (known as "prior art") to quickly understand the invention's core concept and distinguish it from anything that already exists.

• Example 1: Novel Water Filtration System

  Imagine an inventor develops a new household water filter that uses a unique multi-stage membrane system to remove microplastics and pharmaceuticals more effectively than current filters. The summary of the invention for this patent application would describe the innovative design of these membranes, how they are layered, and the specific contaminants they target. It would explain the operational flow of water through the system and highlight why this particular combination of filtration stages offers superior purification compared to existing products, allowing the examiner to understand its distinct technological advantage.

• Example 2: Automated Crop Monitoring Drone

  Consider a company that invents an autonomous drone system equipped with specialized sensors and AI software to detect early signs of crop disease or nutrient deficiency across large agricultural fields. The summary of the invention would detail the drone's unique sensor array, the artificial intelligence algorithms used for analysis, and how the system automatically identifies and maps problem areas for farmers. This explanation would clarify the drone's operational capabilities and its novel approach to precision agriculture, demonstrating its unique character compared to manual inspection or less sophisticated aerial monitoring.

• Example 3: Ergonomic Keyboard Design

  Suppose a designer creates a new computer keyboard with a dynamically adjustable split layout and customizable key tension, aimed at significantly reducing repetitive strain injuries. The summary of the invention for this keyboard would describe the mechanism allowing the split sections to articulate and lock into various ergonomic positions, the technology behind the variable key tension, and how these features improve user comfort and health. This section would clearly articulate the keyboard's innovative physical design and functional benefits, enabling a patent examiner to grasp its unique contribution to ergonomic computing hardware.