The Toolbars are used as follows

Launch AutoCAD with IP-Docs installed.

START IP-Docs: This icon is used to start the IP-Docs code operating. It opens the IP-Docs Options TOOLBAR and then closes the IP-Docs open TOOLBAR (where it resides).

START the IP-Docs TUTORIALS: This icon is used to start tutorials, it is context sensitive, if it is selected before any of the subset icons, the tutorials begin from the beginning and can be followed through their entirety, if it is selected when any of the subset software is active, the tutorial starts with that group of training information and animations.

START IP-Docs general questions, top level help. This icon will take you to the top of the index help screen (search for help by topic) and give access to the web site help.

START the DESIGN TOOLBAR. This icon is accessed from the IP-Docs Options TOOLBAR. Selecting this icon opens the DESIGN patent TOOLBAR and closes the IP-Docs options TOOLBAR. Selecting this icon prompts the user to enter a Project name and filename for the Design Patent project. A subdirectory is then created with that Project name and a complete copy of the model and or 2D drawings in MODELSPACE are WBLOCKed to that new file name under that new subdirectory. The Design Patent template (PAPERSPACE tabs etc.) is inserted.

START the UTILITY TOOLBAR. This icon is accessed from the IP-Docs Options TOOLBAR. Selecting this icon opens the UTILITIES patent TOOLBAR and closes the IP-Docs options TOOLBAR. Selecting this icon prompts the user to enter a Project name and filename for the Utility Patent project. A subdirectory is then created with that Project name and a complete copy of the model and or 2D drawings in MODELSPACE are WBLOCKed to that new file name under that new subdirectory. The Utility Patent template (PAPERSPACE tabs etc) is inserted.

START the TRADEMARK TOOLBAR. This icon is selected from the IP-Docs Options TOOLBAR. Selecting this icon opens the TECHNICAL TOOLBAR and closes the IP-Docs Options TOOLBAR. Selecting this icon prompts the user to enter a Project name and filename for the Trademark project. A subdirectory is then created with that Project name and a complete copy of the model and or 2D drawings in MODELSPACE are WBLOCKed to that new file name under that new subdirectory. The Trademark template (PAPERSPACE tabs etc) is inserted.

START the COPYRIGHT TOOLBAR. This icon is selected from the IP-Docs Options TOOLBAR. Selecting this icon opens the COPYRIGHT TOOLBAR and closes the IP-Docs Options TOOLBAR. Selecting this icon prompts the user to enter a Project name and filename for the Copyright project. A subdirectory is then created with that Project name and a complete copy of the model and or 2D drawings in MODELSPACE are WBLOCKed to that new file name under that new subdirectory. The Copyright template (PAPERSPACE tabs etc) is inserted.

OPENS the SELECT COUNTRIES popup window (VB?). This icon is selected from the IP-Docs Options TOOLBAR. Selecting this icon opens the SELECT COUNTRIES but does not close the IP-Docs Options TOOLBAR. The VB window advises the user not to create multiple country copies unless the primary country (US) patent is complete for reasons of efficiency. If the user chooses another country before a project is started, the primary or first patent copyright or trademark document will be for that country.

This icon sends the user to a help menu designed to help them select within the IP-Docs Options TOOLBAR among the two basic types of patents, copyrights, trademarks, as well as how to use the multiple country option most efficiently. The toolbar also describes the on demand training program options.

Design Patents

These toolbars assist with automating and formatting views as demonstrated below.

Opens a VB window that lets the user choose their initial view, one of six standard orthographic projections, or one of eight oblique views, once a view is chosen the window is closed and that view is presented in the MVIEW window in the document, the operator is prompted to adjust the view using the ORBIT option then press return to confirm the view. The system does a 3D to 2D conversion and prompts the user to begin choosing options that are not grayed out on the Design toolbar. Choosing the option again offers the user the opportunity to create additional sheets and select new views in those sheets as well. The process continues until all required views are created. The process ends when the user chooses the (.tif) icon to output their work.

Selection of this icon opens the modified BHATCH options window that offers the user a selection of custom, specific Design Patent shaders as specified by the USPTO. They can be applied and interactively scaled and reviewed before application. Some custom programming will be required here as AutoCAD has no graduated tone fill and this must offer it as an option, at least a fine stipple effect that is island sensitive. Transparent symbol lines (3-5 short lines set at 45 degrees of the horizontal as well as parallel horizontal and vertical lines will be required also, see USPTO spec sheet.

This icon starts a review process, it opens the AutoCAD standard PLOT window which allows the current country version of the Design Patent to be reviewed and remains open until the CANCEL or a plot option is chosen. Hard copy can be chosen from a plot style what will print the images (all sheets) as well as call-up and print the corresponding documents from MSWord. A Design Patent plot style will become current in the plot window. It can be chosen and it will author both the images and text together (hopefully after it has been corrected and approved by a patent attorney, and will sent it to the USPTO in Electronic Submission Format (in the case of a Design Patent). The drawing(s) will be saved and date stamped along with the text document(s), the then-current document will be saved to the same name, different rev. letter (b,c,d, etc). If the copy is unregistered, then all hard copies will have UNREGISTERED or BOOTLEG SOFTWARE printed across them diagonally in bold print. If an attempt is made to submit electronically, the software will send a notice to our website, (with user information collected from the machine), so we can bill the user.

This icon will open the VB window that offers a list of countries, thirteen will be offered as "most frequently accessed" and the remainder of the countries patent formats will be available to users off the web site to add in on demand through an automatic (.exe) file upgrade, one country at a time. Once the first set of documents is complete, additional countries can be chosen. Txt in the drawings as well as text in the text documents will be translated to the language of that country. Graphics will be reformatted for those countries chosen in addition to the primary country (first completed). These will be generated using a set of algorithms that will resize, re-scale and turn on and off various country specific details including but not limited to image size, hatch patterns and shaders, and outlines. Each country will have to be made current one at a time and reviewed/plotted and/or electronically filed as required.

This icon is selected after all other lines and shaders have been applied. Selecting one item at a time a number is assigned to each object to be named or specified (disclosed). The number has a hot zone, double clicking in this hot zone will open the text document at the point where the hot link is current for additional annotation to be added. The number assigned is hot linked to the corresponding number in the connected text document. The hot link is bi-directional such that double clicking the item in the text will open and highlight (possibly zoom a window around) the referenced object.

Selecting this icon will allow the user to choose items that will be shown for clarification but are not included in the patent being applied for. These items will be treated in a special manner, they will be changed to a hidden layer where the LINETYPE of all elements will be changed to HIDDEN. Those objects which are behind the claimed portion, will be hidden in a normal manner. Those items that are to be presented over-top-of the claimed item will be "hidden" themselves but superimposed over the claimed item(s) and not hide those items behind them. This may have to be created in several separate operations and superimposed in layers.

Output vector to raster images and insertion into Adobe Acrobat, MS Word (XML) or Wordperfect files.

Vector graphics - refers to a line with a given direction obtained from two points.
Raster graphics - consists of row after row of tiny phosphor spots.

Help specific to Design Patents.

Table of Contents

Patent Information

Design Patent Drawing Example

P103 Understanding and preparing Design Patent text documents for the patent attorney