App Structure

App Structure

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The M.P.E.P. explicitly sets forth the recommended structure of the non-provisional patent application:

Each of the lettered items should appear in upper case, without underlining or bold type, as section headings.

(A) Title of the invention. (See M.P.E.P. § 606).

(B) Cross-reference to related applications. (See M.P.E.P. § 201.11).

(C) Statement regarding federally sponsored research or development. (See M.P.E.P. § 310).

(D) The names of the parties to a joint research agreement (See 37 CFR 1.71(g)).

(E) Reference to a “Sequence Listing,” a table, or a computer program listing appendix submitted on compact disc and an

incorporation-by-reference of the material on the compact disc. For computer listings filed on or prior to March 1,

2001, reference to a “Microfiche appendix” (See former 37 CFR 1.96(c) for Microfiche appendix).

(F) Background of the invention. (See M.P.E.P. §608.01(c)).  (1) Field of the invention. (2) Description of related art

including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR1.98.

(G) Brief summary of the invention. (See M.P.E.P. §608.01(d)).

(H) Brief description of the several views of the drawing. (See M.P.E.P. § 608.01(f)).

(I) Detailed description of the invention. (See M.P.E.P. § 608.01(g)).

(J) Claim(s) (commencing on a separate sheet). (See M.P.E.P. § 608.01(i)-(p)).

(K) Abstract of the Disclosure (commencing on a separate sheet). (See M.P.E.P. § 608.01(b)).

(L) Sequence Listing, if on paper (see 37 CFR 1.821 through 1.825).^[1]M.P.E.P. § 600.

Of course, each office generally applies their own guidelines as to how patent applications are drafted.  Nonetheless, however, the M.P.E.P. recommended structure is usually applied as a base threshold to all applications. 

A good idea is to have a base model application template that you use for all of your applications.  In fact, you may find that specific clients always prefer to have specific basic drawings (e.g. basic hardware system setup, circuit board design, etc.) with standard description language.  Whatever the case may be, it is good to have one (or as many as are necessary) templates ready to be used to increase your efficiency.  The more fluid the process, the more time you can spend focusing on the strategy and not merely the schematics of what you are doing.