Required views for design applications
I prepare, file, and prosecute a fair number of design applications; at least 30 annually, and it’s only increasing.
The “standard” views have always been: perspective, front, back, left, right, top, and bottom. I always have found this particularly annoying as it almost always creates a §112 issue with one of the planar views, most commonly the bottom since it is only seen in two dimensions. *Edit: as someone pointed out, these traditional views stem from the traditional method of producing patent illustrations*
Recently—sort of experimentally—I opted to only submit eight (8) perspective views. Everything is seen in three dimensions, from each angle, and the case sailed through.
37 CFR 1.152 provides that the “… drawings … must contain a sufficient number of views to constitute a complete disclosure of the appearance of the design.” Similarly, MPEP 1503.02 I provides “perspective views are suggested … the surfaces shown would normally not be required to be illustrated in other views if these surfaces are clearly understood and fully disclosed in the perspective.”
Based on this, I am wondering why I would even bother with the planar views if I can show every bit of the design with way more clarity in various perspective views? I would prefer to drop them entirely for this new client’s work, as the designs are pretty complex in appearance and this will at least reduce—hopefully eliminate, §112 issues.
Does anyone have an experience that would caution me against this approach?