Břeclav Cheap and fast patent drawings that are high quality. Believe it or not, it’s something we can do. Granted there are stipulations to ensure the patent illustrations are cheap, fast, and good but if you follow the tips below it can and will happen.
On Thursday, March 19th our owner and CEO, Dave Kaesemeyer gave a presentation to a great and long-time client of ours. The focus was primarily what our services entail and how we help intellectual property attorneys with patent drawings, trademarks, and illustrations. Another point of the presentation was how inventors and their representing party can reduce overall cost on patent drawings and decrease turn-around time on the drawing set.
Sounds counter-intuitive that we would urge our clients to reduce costs, right? We like to keep our running average of price-per-sheet to a minimum and make people happy with our services. That’s our motivation, happy clients = long term clients.
So how can you save money and get your drawings back faster? Easy enough! Here’s a few tips and tricks:
1) Get CAD files
This is the most overlooked resource we see! Chances are the client has designed and built a prototype or model in a 3D program of some sort. A vast majority of the popular platforms have a file type they can export to that will be imported and usable by a competing software package. If the client is worried about security or the file size is too large to exchange via email or FTP, have them generate a CAD blueprint of the view they want. With popular CAD platforms like Solidworks, AutoCAD, CATIA, … etc. the operator can output the 3D model to 2D blueprint in minutes, if not seconds. We can open and clean up the files, add shading and/or item numbers, and format the patent drawings for submission to a PTO/PCT. Our preferred formats are DWG or DXF, but we can open a few others.
2) Original Files
Sharp color images or files containing said images are much easier to work with than black & white reproductions of a color image that has been scanned, copied, marked up, faxed or photocopied.
Files with text we can highlight, copy & paste will ensure the patent drawings or flowcharts have correct content, correct spelling, and correct formatting. Let’s be honest here, our illustrators are in fact illustrators, most are still on the two-finger “hunt and peck” method of typing.
3) Finalize the informal drawings and application 1st
Drawings should be near or at the end of the patent application process. For the sake of being humble, we are the end of the line in the application drafting process. The concept or design of the invention should be finalized, the detailed description should be mostly complete, and the inventor/attorney/agent should have the figure structure 99.999% outlined. We say this because we care. Honest!
There have been multiple instances in our history where an estimate for three figures and $75 budget finalizes as eight figures but a $1200-$1500 invoice. That’s a bit of difference! But why that much for only eight figures? You didn’t see the 20-some figures or alterations that were scrapped and the three days our draftsman was one the phone, emailing, or redrawing just these figures. Most times the inventor changes their mind or realizes a new or alternate embodiment part-way through the application drafting process.
That is perfectly fine, we understand these things happen and try to be very accommodating.
When this does happen, what if we just put the drawings on hold and wait until the inventor is sure the design or concept is final? Chances are the eight figures mentioned earlier are only $200-$300, or less.
4) Formal Design Patent Drawings Only
Design Patents are difficult to draw but end up as some of the coolest patent illustrations to show off. They should be highly detailed, have artistic expression, and require precision usually reserved for engineering drawings. Because the drawings are detailed, require precision and should have artistic expression is why lesser draftsman and artists hate them.
I like Design Patents because it is a unique challenge that allows me to use both my artistic side and engineering background at the same time. Most people have one or the other and it shows in the final product. A draftsman will show the profiles and object lines perfectly but shy away from detailed shading, if any at all. An illustrator or artist will have little to no comprehension for consistency in the details or profiles but will pack in really good looking shading. For proper protection, it has to be both. The profiles and the shading work hand-in-hand to accurately represent the invention. Otherwise, I’ll be reviewing your drawings in a litigation case, and you don’t want that.
-Ben Stegemoller
This is why informal design patent applications should not be filed. Whatever is first presented to the examiner is the claim and invention. If the profiles, claims, or content is incorrect or inconsistent; the inventor is stuck with the informally filed design. Any correction or alteration is deemed new matter and tossed out. If you have a fast approaching deadline, let us know first and we’ll see what we can do. We may be able to create a quick drawing set that will satisfy an informal filing with out later triggering the “new matter” Office Action when formals are filed. Not the preferred route, but it’s better than screen shots, hand sketches, photos, or the wrong design filed.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office via the contact form or phone numbers listed on the website’s contact page.