Legal Definitions - typed-form drawing

A typed-form drawing refers to a visual representation or diagram created using standard keyboard characters, symbols, or fonts, rather than freehand sketching or advanced graphic design tools. In legal contexts, particularly within patent applications, these drawings are used to illustrate inventions, processes, or designs in a clear, standardized, and often simplified manner, relying on text-based elements to convey visual information.

• Example 1: Software Process Flowchart

  Imagine a patent application for a new software algorithm. Instead of a complex graphical flowchart, the applicant might use a typed-form drawing to illustrate the steps. For instance:

  +-----------------+
  | START           |
  +-----------------+
          |
          v
  +-----------------+
  | INPUT DATA      |
  +-----------------+
          |
          v
  +-----------------+
  | PROCESS DATA    |
  +-----------------+
          |
          v
  +-----------------+
  | OUTPUT RESULT   |
  +-----------------+
          

  This example demonstrates a typed-form drawing because the entire flowchart, including boxes, arrows, and text, is constructed using standard keyboard characters (hyphens, plus signs, vertical bars, greater-than signs, and letters). It visually explains a process without requiring specialized drawing software.

• Example 2: Basic Chemical Structure

  In a legal document describing a simple chemical compound, a typed-form drawing might be used to represent its molecular structure. For instance, water could be shown as:

  H - O - H
          

  This illustrates a typed-form drawing because the chemical bonds and atoms are represented using standard letters and hyphens available on a keyboard. It provides a visual understanding of the molecule's arrangement without needing a sophisticated chemical drawing program.

• Example 3: Simple Circuit Diagram

  Consider a patent describing a very basic electronic circuit. A typed-form drawing could depict a resistor connected in series with a battery:

  +---[ R ]---+
  |           |
  [ + ]       [ - ]
  |           |
  +-----------+
          

  This is a typed-form drawing because the circuit components (resistor, battery terminals, wires) are all represented using standard keyboard characters like hyphens, brackets, plus signs, and letters. It conveys the essential layout and components of the circuit using only text-based elements.