Invention description

Introduction

Identify the core

State of the art

Technical solution

Structure and form

Avoid mistakes

Result

Step

1

of

7

A convincing invention description is ideally one to two pages long.

It gets to the point on what is new, why it matters, and how it works. Everyone should understand the decisive trick and its benefit in a few minutes. This short, clear basis is the starting point for prior-art research and drafting the patent application.

Key terms in brief

Term

Core of the invention

Erklärung

The concrete problem your invention solves.

Term

State of the art

Erklärung

Everything that was publicly accessible before the filing date – publications, patents, products, talks.

Term

Technical solution

Erklärung

The entirety of measures/steps with which the task is solved.

Term

Person skilled in the art

Erklärung

A person with typical training/experience in the field, but without your specialist knowledge.

What this guides does

This guide takes you through six work steps:

identify the core of the invention,
outline the state of the art,
describe the technical solution,
clarify structure and form of the invention description,
avoid typical mistakes, and
secure the result.

At each step you should take notes directly. At the end you assemble your draft invention description from them.

Typical pitfalls

Problem

Too muchPages of equations, fundamentals, preliminary experiments

Solution

Focus on what matters: What is new? What do you need to do?

Problem

To littleVague wording, no distinction from the state of the art

Solution

Present state of the art, drawbacks, and your solution clearly.

Problem

How instead of whyYou deduce why it works

Solution

Important rule: Describe what needs to be done for it to work.

Problem

Wrong audienceOnly experts understand it

Solution

Write for a “person skilled in the art”.

Limitations

This is not legal advice. The guide is for orientation when creating a straightforward invention description. For specific legal questions, always involve a specialist (patent attorney, BAYPAT, invention advisor). The examples are for illustration and are AI-generated.

Ready for the next step?

Click here to start step 2 “Identify the core”.

Invention description

Introduction

Identify the core

State of the art

Technical solution

Structure and form

Avoid mistakes

Result

Step

1

of

7

A convincing invention description is ideally one to two pages long.

It gets to the point on what is new, why it matters, and how it works. Everyone should understand the decisive trick and its benefit in a few minutes. This short, clear basis is the starting point for prior-art research and drafting the patent application.

Key terms in brief

Term

Core of the invention

Erklärung

The concrete problem your invention solves.

Term

State of the art

Erklärung

Everything that was publicly accessible before the filing date – publications, patents, products, talks.

Term

Technical solution

Erklärung

The entirety of measures/steps with which the task is solved.

Term

Person skilled in the art

Erklärung

A person with typical training/experience in the field, but without your specialist knowledge.

What this guides does

This guide takes you through six work steps:

identify the core of the invention,
outline the state of the art,
describe the technical solution,
clarify structure and form of the invention description,
avoid typical mistakes, and
secure the result.

At each step you should take notes directly. At the end you assemble your draft invention description from them.

Typical pitfalls

Problem

Too muchPages of equations, fundamentals, preliminary experiments

Solution

Focus on what matters: What is new? What do you need to do?

Problem

To littleVague wording, no distinction from the state of the art

Solution

Present state of the art, drawbacks, and your solution clearly.

Problem

How instead of whyYou deduce why it works

Solution

Important rule: Describe what needs to be done for it to work.

Problem

Wrong audienceOnly experts understand it

Solution

Write for a “person skilled in the art”.

Limitations

This is not legal advice. The guide is for orientation when creating a straightforward invention description. For specific legal questions, always involve a specialist (patent attorney, BAYPAT, invention advisor). The examples are for illustration and are AI-generated.

Ready for the next step?

Click here to start step 2 “Identify the core”.

Invention description

Introduction

Identify the core

State of the art

Technical solution

Structure and form

Avoid mistakes

Result

Step

1

of

7

A convincing invention description is ideally one to two pages long.

It gets to the point on what is new, why it matters, and how it works. Everyone should understand the decisive trick and its benefit in a few minutes. This short, clear basis is the starting point for prior-art research and drafting the patent application.

Key terms in brief

Term

Core of the invention

Definition

The concrete problem your invention solves.

Term

State of the art

Definition

Everything that was publicly accessible before the filing date – publications, patents, products, talks.

Term

Technical solution

Definition

The entirety of measures/steps with which the task is solved.

Term

Person skilled in the art

Definition

A person with typical training/experience in the field, but without your specialist knowledge.

What this guides does

This guide takes you through six work steps:

identify the core of the invention,
outline the state of the art,
describe the technical solution,
clarify structure and form of the invention description,
avoid typical mistakes, and
secure the result.

At each step you should take notes directly. At the end you assemble your draft invention description from them.

Typical pitfalls

Problem

Too muchPages of equations, fundamentals, preliminary experiments

Solution

Focus on what matters: What is new? What do you need to do?

Problem

To littleVague wording, no distinction from the state of the art

Solution

Present state of the art, drawbacks, and your solution clearly.

Problem

How instead of whyYou deduce why it works

Solution

Important rule: Describe what needs to be done for it to work.

Problem

Wrong audienceOnly experts understand it

Solution

Write for a “person skilled in the art”.

Limitations

This is not legal advice. The guide is for orientation when creating a straightforward invention description. For specific legal questions, always involve a specialist (patent attorney, BAYPAT, invention advisor). The examples are for illustration and are AI-generated.

Ready for the next step?

Click here to start step 2 “Identify the core”.