What are patent claims?

Patent claims are the most important part of a patent application. They define the legal boundaries of your invention, what is protected and what isn’t.

Claims are written in technical, legal language and describe exactly what the invention does and how it’s different from existing technologies.

There are three main types:

• Independent claims: Broad, stand-alone definitions of the invention.
• Dependent claims: Narrower versions that add details or limitations.
• Omnibus claims: Parts of the patent’s specification or drawings rather than explicitly listing elements.

If someone else makes or sells something that falls within your patent claims, you may be able to enforce your patent rights through legal action. 

Writing strong, enforceable claims requires precision and legal expertise. Poorly written claims can limit protection or make a patent easy to work around.