Patent Drawing or Photos

[Sam101]

Patent Drawing or Photos

Hi I would like to know if it is OK to use photos of all the parts to my invention, that would in place of ant drawings? they are have same illustrations with a descriptions of each part, same perspective views with lines pointing to each numbered part

being that the drawing would show the same parts just in an outline and not as well.

Thanks

[Brad]

The official answer to this question is "no".  In general photos are not allowed in patent applications and your drawings should be proper black and white line drawings according to the patent rules.

However, if you are only filing a provisional application then the patent office will most likely not object to you using photos now and then when you file the full non-provisional application can you can convert them to black and white line drawings.

[Sam101]

OK, Cool, since I converted some good part photos to Black and White drawings used as diagrams, but not line drawings,

and do not have any line drawing yet. It is good to know that I can still file them, giving me time to have some line drawings make.

Where would someone post to find someone that does drawings?

[Brad]

You can search for "patent draftsman" or "patent drawings" and there should be good people near you.  You an also search on places like www.elance.com but it may be a good idea to first get a NDA in place before you send anyone information about your invention. 

[PatCAD]

Where would someone post to find someone that does drawings?

I'm doing this as a hobby for $30-$50 a sheet but you can also have your drawings done in India for $25-$40 a sheet !
I haven't spent a lot of time researching but one site I've found is http://www.indiadrawings.com/

I used to pay $100-$150 a sheet more than 10 years ago but wasn't happy with the drawings I got so I started doing them myself.
Now I don't see how anybody in the U.S. can make a living competing with draftspeople overseas.

[Sam101]

Hi do you have a sample of a NDA

[Brad]

Hi do you have a sample of a NDA

No.  We do not provide any legal advice or legal agreements here such as NDAs.  You will have to check with an attorney for that or search google for some sample NDAs.

Thanks
Brad