The specification is simply a short statement that you can prepare with a word processor.
The Elements of the Specification
The term “specification,” is used to refer to the complete statement furnished with the design patent, as well as a specific element of that statement, as described below. Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s included:
- Preamble—one or two boilerplate sentences announcing that you’re seeking a design patent. For example, “The petitioner whose signature appears on the declaration attached respectfully requests that Letters Patent be granted to such petitioner for the new and original design set forth in the specification.”
- Specification—a statement announcing that you’ve designed something new. This is also the place to introduce your design by name. A basic title such as “glass bowl,” “puppet,” or “steel table” will work best but you can provide more detail if you wish. For example, “Petitioner has invented a new, original, and ornamental design for a table entitled “Dream Table,” of which the following is a specification. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, the figures of which are described below.”
- Cross References to Related Applications—here, you indicate whether you have filed a previous design patent application to which this one is related.
- Statement Regarding Federally Sponsored R & D—indicate here whether the design was prepared under a government grant or as part of government research.
- Description of the Figure(s) of the Drawings—describe the view presented in each of the drawing sheets. For example, “Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my new music player design. Fig. 2. is a right side view of my new music player design. Fig. 3. is a top view of my new music player design. Fig. 4 is a left end view of my new music player design.”
- Feature Description—provide a short description of your design; for example, “My candle is characterized by a pinwheel effect that gradually slopes outward.”
- The Claim. One sentence claiming rights to the design, for example, ““I claim the ornamental design for the Happy Candelabra as shown.”)
We’ve provided a sample one for a table design (below) created by designer Andrew Bergman. You can see the full set of drawings here.
SAMPLE DESIGN SPECIFICATION
PREAMBLE: The petitioner whose signature appears on the declaration attached respectfully requests that Letters Patent be granted to such petitioner for the new and original design set forth in the specification.
SPECIFICATION: Petitioner has invented a new, original, and ornamental design for a table entitled “I Cannot Tell a Lie Table,” of which the following is a specification. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, the figures of which are described below.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS: None
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH: None
DRAWING FIGURES:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my new table design
Fig. 2. is a right side view of my new table design
Fig. 3. is a top view of my new table design
Fig. 4 is a left end view of my new table design
FEATURE DESCRIPTION: My table design is characterized by wooden hatchets, hanging wooden cherries and the written expression “I cannot tell a lie.”
CLAIM: I (We) Claim:
The ornamental design for a table as shown and described.