35 U.S.C. § 112 — Specification

Page 48 TITLE 35—PATENTS § 112 any provisional application filed on or after June 8, 1995, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4801(d)] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 119 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1994 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 103–465 effective 6 months after Dec. 8, 1994, and applicable to all patent applica- tions filed in the United States on or after that effec- tive date, with provisions relating to earliest filed pat- ent application, see section 534(b)(1), (3) of Pub. L. 103–465, set out as a note under section 154 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1982 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 97–247 effective six months after Aug. 27, 1982, see section 17(c) of Pub. L. 97–247, set out as an Effective Date note under section 294 of this title. EMERGENCY RELIEF FROM POSTAL SITUATION AFFECT- ING PATENT, TRADEMARK, AND OTHER FEDERAL CASES Pub. L. 92–34, June 30, 1971, 85 Stat. 87, provided that a patent or trademark application would be considered filed in the United States Patent Office on the date that it would have been received by the Patent Office except for the delay caused by emergency situation af- fecting postal service from Mar. 18, 1970 to Mar. 30, 1970, if a claim was made. § 112. Specification (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall con- tain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most near- ly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall con- clude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. (c) FORM.—A claim may be written in inde- pendent or, if the nature of the case admits, in dependent or multiple dependent form. (d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in depend- ent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers. (e) REFERENCE IN MULTIPLE DEPENDENT FORM.—A claim in multiple dependent form shall contain a reference, in the alternative only, to more than one claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A multiple depend- ent claim shall not serve as a basis for any other multiple dependent claim. A multiple dependent claim shall be construed to incorporate by ref- erence all the limitations of the particular claim in relation to which it is being considered. (f) ELEMENT IN CLAIM FOR A COMBINATION.—An element in a claim for a combination may be ex- pressed as a means or step for performing a spec- ified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the cor- responding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof. (July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 798; Pub. L. 89–83, § 9, July 24, 1965, 79 Stat. 261; Pub. L. 94–131, § 7, Nov. 14, 1975, 89 Stat. 691; Pub. L. 112–29, § 4(c), Sept. 16, 2011, 125 Stat. 296.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 33 (R.S. 4888, amended (1) Mar. 3, 1915, ch. 94, § 1, 38 Stat. 958; (2) May 23, 1930, ch. 312, § 2, 46 Stat. 376). The sentence relating to signature of the specifica- tion is omitted in view of the general requirement for a signature in section 111. The last sentence is omitted for inclusion in the chapter relating to plant patents. The clause relating to machines is omitted as unnec- essary and the requirement for disclosing the best mode of carrying out the invention is stated as gen- erally applicable to all types of invention (derived from Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 69, first defense). The clause relating to the claim is made a separate paragraph to emphasize the distinction between the de- scription and the claim or definition, and the language is modified. A new paragraph relating to functional claims is added. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2011—Pub. L. 112–29 designated first to sixth pars. as subsecs. (a) to (f), respectively, inserted headings, in subsec. (a), substituted ‘‘or joint inventor of carrying out the invention’’ for ‘‘of carrying out his invention’’, in subsec. (b), substituted ‘‘inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention’’ for ‘‘applicant regards as his invention’’, and, in subsec. (d), substituted ‘‘Subject to subsection (e),’’ for ‘‘Subject to the following para- graph,’’. 1975—Pub. L. 94–131 substituted provision authorizing the writing of claims, if the nature of the case admits, in dependent or multiple dependent form for prior pro- vision for writing claims in dependent form, required claims in dependent form to contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed, substituted text respecting construction of a claim in dependent form so as to incorporate by reference all the limita- tions of the claim to which it refers for prior text for construction of a dependent claim to include all the limitations of the claim incorporated by reference into the dependent claim, and inserted paragraph respecting certain requirements for claims in multiple dependent form. 1965—Pub. L. 89–83 permitted a claim to be written in independent or dependent form, and if in dependent form, required it to be construed to include all the lim- itations of the claim incorporated by reference into the dependent claim. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2011 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 112–29 effective upon the expi- ration of the 1-year period beginning on Sept. 16, 2011, and applicable to any patent application that is filed on or after that effective date, see section 4(e) of Pub. L. 112–29, set out as a note under section 111 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1975 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 94–131 effective Jan. 24, 1978, and applicable on and after that date to patent applica- tions filed in the United States and to international ap- plications, where applicable, see section 11 of Pub. L. 94–131, set out as an Effective Date note under section 351 of this title. Page 49 TITLE 35—PATENTS § 115 EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1965 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 89–83 effective three months after July 24, 1965, see section 7(a) of Pub. L. 89–83, set out as a note under section 41 of this title. § 113. Drawings The applicant shall furnish a drawing where necessary for the understanding of the subject matter sought to be patented. When the nature of such subject matter admits of illustration by a drawing and the applicant has not furnished such a drawing, the Director may require its submission within a time period of not less than two months from the sending of a notice there- of. Drawings submitted after the filing date of the application may not be used (i) to overcome any insufficiency of the specification due to lack of an enabling disclosure or otherwise inad- equate disclosure therein, or (ii) to supplement the original disclosure thereof for the purpose of interpretation of the scope of any claim. (July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 799; Pub. L. 94–131, § 8, Nov. 14, 1975, 89 Stat. 691; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4732(a)(10)(A)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–582; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, § 13206(b)(1)(B), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1906.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 34, part (R.S. 4889, amended Mar. 3, 1915, ch. 94, § 2, 38 Stat. 958). The requirement for signature in the corresponding section of existing statute is omitted; regulations of the Patent Office can take care of any substitute. A re- dundant clause is omitted. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2002—Pub. L. 107–273 made technical correction to di- rectory language of Pub. L. 106–113. See 1999 Amend- ment note below. 1999—Pub. L. 106–113, as amended by Pub. L. 107–273, substituted ‘‘Director’’ for ‘‘Commissioner’’. 1975—Pub. L. 94–131 substituted provisions respecting drawings requiring necessary-for-understanding draw- ings and submission of drawings within prescribed time period and limiting use of drawings submitted after fil- ing date of application for prior provision requiring the applicant to furnish a drawing when the nature of the case admitted it. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1999 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4731] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1975 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 94–131 effective Jan. 24, 1978, and applicable on and after that date to patent applica- tions filed in the United States and to international ap- plications, where applicable, see section 11 of Pub. L. 94–131, set out as an Effective Date note under section 351 of this title. § 114. Models, specimens The Director may require the applicant to fur- nish a model of convenient size to exhibit advan- tageously the several parts of his invention. When the invention relates to a composition of matter, the Director may require the appli- cant to furnish specimens or ingredients for the purpose of inspection or experiment. (July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 799; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4732(a)(10)(A)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–582; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, § 13206(b)(1)(B), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1906.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 34, part (R.S. 4890 and 4891). The change in language in the second paragraph broadens the requirement for specimens. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2002—Pub. L. 107–273 made technical correction to di- rectory language of Pub. L. 106–113. See 1999 Amend- ment note below. 1999—Pub. L. 106–113, as amended by Pub. L. 107–273, substituted ‘‘Director’’ for ‘‘Commissioner’’ in two places. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1999 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4731] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1 of this title. § 115. Inventor’s oath or declaration (a) NAMING THE INVENTOR; INVENTOR’S OATH OR DECLARATION.—An application for patent that is filed under section 111(a) or commences the na- tional stage under section 371 shall include, or be amended to include, the name of the inventor for any invention claimed in the application. Except as otherwise provided in this section, each individual who is the inventor or a joint in- ventor of a claimed invention in an application for patent shall execute an oath or declaration in connection with the application. (b) REQUIRED STATEMENTS.—An oath or dec- laration under subsection (a) shall contain statements that— (1) the application was made or was author- ized to be made by the affiant or declarant; and (2) such individual believes himself or her- self to be the original inventor or an original joint inventor of a claimed invention in the application. (c) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.—The Director may specify additional information relating to the inventor and the invention that is required to be included in an oath or declaration under subsection (a). (d) SUBSTITUTE STATEMENT.— (1) IN GENERAL.—In lieu of executing an oath or declaration under subsection (a), the appli- cant for patent may provide a substitute statement under the circumstances described in paragraph (2) and such additional cir- cumstances that the Director may specify by regulation. (2) PERMITTED CIRCUMSTANCES.—A substitute statement under paragraph (1) is permitted with respect to any individual who— (A) is unable to file the oath or declaration under subsection (a) because the individual—