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[Ray Dunakin]

Those tiny locos are filled to the brim with character!

[Hauk]

Maybe a little off-topic, but here goes anyway:

Is there any reason to believe that patent drawings are to drawn to scale, and that they show a concrete application of the patent?

I would think that patent drawings are mainly made for showing functions. And when no scale is given, isn't it more likely that it is not a scale drawing of a concrete application?

[Barney]

According to the rule book of patents they are not normally to scale  - for a real boring read go to https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/873878/WS0056_Patent_Factsheet_Drawings_Jan_2020.pdf - and the same ruling aplies to the US - FOR SOME UNKOWN REASON big legal battles have happened about this subject but to me its just boring so just take "a patent" drawing as a general layout of the idea"
Barney

[Barney]

And others say

[Lawrence@NZFinescale]

In my relatively minor brush with patent attorneys I learnt that the trick is to be specific enough to be patentable and general enough to have the widest coverage.

Dimensioning a drawing would suggest the invention is specific to those dimensions/proportions and thus a similar product to different dimensions would not infringe, although the text might make it clear that any dimensions are illustrative rather than exclusive.  Practices have evolved over the years too.

So while an old patent drawing might not be relied on, if it's all you have, it's all you have.

[Barney]

Just love it -your few words say it all "if its all you have - its all you have "
Thanks
    Barney