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What is the difference between a utility patent and a design patent?

  • A full-on patent application for a US utility patent covers the actual invention of a system or method to do something novel. It includes the following distinct sections:
    • Description
    • Diagrams
    • References depicting a prior art search
    • A set of claims
  • A design patent protects the esthetic design of a device, and nothing else.  Design patents are fully defined with line drawings depicting the device with 7 views: 3D/isometric, top, front, left, right, bottom, back.
Elaine Chen -
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