CFR - 2025 Title 37 Vol 1 - Sec 1 - 83

Oct 28, 2026

Regulations governing patent drawings in nonprovisional and related patent applications, including when drawings are required for understanding the claimed subject matter, how applicant responsibility for corrections is handled, and limits on using later-submitted drawings to remedy specification deficiencies. It explains permitted drawing components such as illustrations, requirements for completeness of invention features shown in the drawings, treatment of conventional features, and rules for using views of improved machinery and additional illustration requests. Standards cover acceptable drawing categories and requirements for black-and-white versus color drawings.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

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§ 1.79

THE DRAWINGS

§ 1.81 Drawings required in patent application

§ 1.83 Content of drawing

§ 1.84 Standards for drawings

§ 1 .79 37 CFR Ch. I (7–1–25 Edition) view of such commonly owned or assigned applications or patents under reexamination. (h) Applications filed before September 16, 2012. Notwithstanding the requirement in paragraphs (a)(3) and (d)(2) of this section that any specific reference to a prior-filed application be presented in an application data sheet (§ 1 .76), this requirement in paragraph (a)(3) and (d)(2) of this section will be satisfied by the presentation of such specific reference in the first sentence(s) of the specification following the title in a nonprovisional application filed under 35 U. S.C. 111(a) before September 16, 2012, or resulting from an international application filed under 35 U. S. C. 363 before September 16, 2012. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to any specific reference submitted for a petition under paragraph (b) of this section to restore the benefit of a provisional application. (i) Petitions required in international applications. If a petition under paragraph (b), (c), or (e) of this section is required in an international application that was not filed with the United States Receiving Office and is not anonprovisional application, then such petition may be filed in the earliest nonprovisional application that claims benefit under 35 U. S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) to the international application and will be treated as having been filed in the international application. (j) Benefit under 35 U.S.C. 386(c) . Benefit under 35 U. S.C. 386(c) with respect to an international design application is applicable only to nonprovisional applications, international applications, and international design applications filed on or after May 13, 2015, and patents issuing thereon. (k) Time periods in this section. The time periods set forth in this section are not extendable, but are subject to 35 U. S. C. 21(b) (and § 1 .7(a)), PCT Rule 80.5, and Hague Agreement Rule 4(4) .[80 FR 17959, Apr. 2, 2015, as amended at 89 FR 92008, Nov. 20, 2024] § 1.79 [Reserved] THE DRAWINGS AUTHORITY: Secs. 1.81 to 1.88 also issued under 35 U. S. C. 113. § 1.81 Drawings required in patent application. (a) The applicant for a patent is required to furnish a drawing of the invention where necessary for the understanding of the subject matter sought to be patented. Since corrections are the responsibility of the applicant, the original drawing(s) should be retained by the applicant for any necessary future correction. (b) Drawings may include illustrations which facilitate an understanding of the invention (for example, flow sheets in cases of processes, and diagrammatic views) . (c) Whenever the nature of the subject matter sought to be patented admits of illustration by a drawing without its being necessary for the understanding of the subject matter and the applicant has not furnished such a drawing, the examiner will require its submission within a time period of not less than two months from the date of the sending of a notice thereof. (d) Drawings submitted after the filing date of the application may not be used to overcome any insufficiency of the specification due to lack of an enabling disclosure or otherwise inadequate disclosure therein, or to supplement the original disclosure thereof for the purpose of interpretation of the scope of any claim. [43 FR 4015, Jan. 31, 1978, as amended at 53 FR 47808, Nov. 28, 1988; 77 FR 48821, Aug. 14, 2012; 78 FR 62404, Oct. 21, 2013] § 1.83 Content of drawing. (a) The drawing in a nonprovisional application must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. However, conventional features disclosed in the description and claims, where their detailed illustration is not essential for a proper understanding of the invention, should be illustrated in the drawing in the form of a graphical drawing symbol or a labeled representation (e.g. , a labeled rectangular box) . In addition, tables that are included in the specification

FAQs

When are patent drawings required in a patent application?

A drawing is required where necessary for understanding the subject matter sought to be patented. The applicant is responsible for corrections, so the original drawing(s) should be retained for future correction.

What must the drawing in a nonprovisional application show?

It must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Conventional features may be shown using graphical drawing symbols or labeled representations when detailed illustration is not essential.

What are the acceptable categories and standards for patent drawings?

There are two acceptable categories: black ink (normally black-and-white) and color drawings, which are permitted in design applications under specified conditions and quality requirements so details remain reproducible in black and white.

Oct 28, 2026

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