Free Tool · Claim Drafting
Build a patent claim, the right way.
Pick a category, write the preamble, choose a transitional phrase, and add your elements. We assemble a properly punctuated single-sentence claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → and lint it live for the §112 issues an examinerexaminerThe USPTO official who reviews a patent application and decides whether to grant it.Read more → would flag.
Elements / limitations
Assembled claim
1. A method for unlocking a device comprising: detecting a contact on a touch-sensitive display; moving an unlock image along a predefined path in response to the contact; and unlocking the device if the contact reaches the end of the path.
Possible missing antecedent basis (heuristic): "the end", "the path" are referenced without an earlier "a/an" introduction.
Anatomy of a claim
Preamble · transition · elements
Every independent claimindependent claimA claim that stands alone — doesn't reference other claims. Defines the broadest scope of the invention.Read more → is one sentence in three parts: a preamble naming the invention, a transitional phrase ('comprising' is open-ended; 'consisting of' is closed), and a list of elements — the limitations that define the boundary of protection. Fewer elements means broader scope.
This builder is an educational drafting aid, not legal advice. Real claims need a patent attorney's judgment on scope, support, and prior art. PatentBrief is not a law firm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What are the parts of a patent claim?
A claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → has three parts: a preamble that names what the invention is, a transition word (usually 'comprising'), and a body that lists the elements. This tool assembles all three into a well-formed independent claimindependent claimA claim that stands alone — doesn't reference other claims. Defines the broadest scope of the invention.Read more →.
What does 'comprising' mean in a patent claim?
'Comprising' is an open transition: the claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → covers anything that includes the listed elements, even if it has more. 'Consisting of' is closed and covers only the listed elements — the choice changes the claim's scope dramatically.
Where this fits · The patent process
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