How to Make a Patent Drawing

When you file for a patent, you will be required to submit detailed drawings and sketches of your invention or idea before the patent will be issued. For those of you who aren't artistically inclined, don't worry; you have several options for getting your idea on paper.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer Mice
• High-resolution Scanners
• Laser Printers
• Mouse Pads
• Drafting Tables
• Templates
• Drafting Mechanical Pencils
• Drafting Pens
• Computers
• Camera Tripod
• Cameras
• Digital Cameras
• Computer-aided Design (CAD) Programs

Draw-It-Yourself Options

1. Draw your idea from scratch by visualizing in detail what your object will look like. Sketch lightly with pencil, only inking over the lines when you're completely satisfied.
2. Trace a photograph of your object.
3. Trace the actual, three-dimensional object. Affix a transparent drawing sheet onto a piece of clear glass or acrylic. Position the glass or acrylic in front of the object you are drawing. Look through the glass or acrylic and trace the lines of the object onto the affixed sheet. Finish by photocopying the tracing onto a sheet of paper.
4. Draw your object to scale. Make accurate measurements and scale your object accordingly.
5. Submit a photograph as a drawing.

Use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Options

6. Sketch your design from scratch using a three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) program. With zoom and rotation controls at your disposal, you can create detailed sketches to your liking.
7. Scan a photograph of your object, then load the scanned image into a CAD program and trace the image using your mouse.
8. If you have a digital camera, you can forgo the print and scan steps by loading the image directly into your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep all originals for reference and later modification.
• You must have some basic drawing skills to draw from scratch.
• If you're drawing to scale, simplify things by scaling up or down by 50 percent, 25 percent, or some other basic fraction.
• No drawing skills are needed to produce accurate drawings on a computer; if you can learn to type, you can learn to draw.
• This short checklist explains your options for creating drawings. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has an extensive set of rules for the drawings that accompany patent applications. Noncompliance with its restrictions can significantly delay the processing of your application. Review them thoroughly.
• This information is not intended as a substitute for professional legal counsel. Refer to legal references and consult an attorney for up-to-date, comprehensive guidance.