MPEP Section 1504.01(b), Design Comprising Multiple Articles or Multiple Parts Embodied in a Single Article

Executive summary:

This document contains Section 1504.01(b) ("Design Comprising Multiple Articles or Multiple Parts Embodied in a Single Article") of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (the "M.P.E.P."), Eighth Edition, Eighth Revision (July 2010). This page was last updated in January 2011. You may return to the section index to find a particular section. Alternatively, you may search the MPEP using the search box that appears on the left side of every page of BitLaw--you may restrict your search to the MPEP on the search results page.

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1504.01(b) Design Comprising Multiple Articles or Multiple Parts Embodied in a Single Article [R-5]

While the claimed design must be embodied in an article of manufacture as required by 35 U.S.C. 171, it may encompass multiple articles or multiple parts within that article. Ex parte Gibson, 20 USPQ 249 (Bd. App. 1933). **>When the design involves multiple articles, the title must identify a single entity of manufacture made up by the parts (e.g., set, pair, combination, unit, assembly). A descriptive statement should be included in the specification making it clear that the claim is directed to the collective appearance of the articles shown. If the separate parts are shown in a single view, the parts must be shown embraced by a bracket "[rcub]". The claim may also involve multiple parts of a single article, where the article is shown in broken lines and various parts are shown in solid lines. In this case, no bracket is needed.< See MPEP §  1503.01.