Interpreting Patent Claims with ChatGPT

Prompt: Please make a patent drawing based on the following claim:

15. A self-forming socket comprising: a housing assembly having an interior wall surrounding a separate frame, and a plurality of longitudinal openings through said frame; said housing having an opening at a top end through which said frame is inserted for assembly into an interior of said housing; a housing interior wall notch in which said frame is held; an inward extension of said interior wall to form a shelf below said notch to support said frame; a plurality of parallel pins, each having an elongate middle portion and an enlarged head end, said pins being slidable along respective said middle portions in respective ones of said openings, an outer ring of pins all in contact with said interior wall; wherein said head ends are closely packed directly adjacent one another such that end forces there against during transmission of torque to a fastener are transmitted outwardly through adjacent said pin head ends to said housing wall and not as significant bending forces to said elongate middle portion; and biasing means for biasing each of said head ends away from said respective openings.
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Understanding a patent claim can seem like a daunting task. In an ideal world, it’s best to approach it with a technical background in the subject of the patent, experience as a patent examiner, a degree in patent law, and practical knowledge from litigating patent infringement cases. After this, you would read the full patent specification, referencing the associated drawings and prior art, and then analyze the claim itself.

However, for independent inventors with limited resources and time, the process is far from ideal. In these cases, it’s up to you to do the best you can on your own.

Thankfully, artificial intelligence (AI) can assist in understanding the basics of what a patent claim is about—at least to some extent.

What’s in a Patent?
A patent typically has two main sections:

1. Disclosure and Drawings: This part broadly describes the invention and may include references to similar inventions.
   

2. Claims: The claims specify the unique details of the invention that are protected by the patent.

Patent claims are often written in a way that starts with broad, general descriptions and narrows down to highly specific details. This structure is intended to define the scope of the patent’s protection.

Using AI to Interpret Patent Claims
To explore how AI can help interpret a patent claim, I tried an experiment. I input a claim from one of our expired Gator-Grip socket patents into ChatGPT (US5622090A). You can view the full patent with its drawings here and see drawings below. Above, I’ve shared ChatGPT’s interpretation of independent claim 15 from the patent. (For what it’s worth, I always use “please” and “thank you” when prompting AI.)

Conclusion
While ChatGPT’s interpretation of the claim is somewhat helpful, it is likely not precise enough to be fully reliable in this case. AI has come a long way, but patent claim interpretation is a complex task that requires a deep understanding of both technical details and legal nuances. As AI technology continues to evolve, I plan to revisit this experiment in six months to see if the results improve.

Remember, this post reflects my personal experience and is not a substitute for professional legal advice. If you're navigating patent claims, consulting with a patent attorney is always the safest approach.


Actual Patent Drawings from US5622090A

Invention City can help you with understanding and writing patents from an engineering and business perspective. Contact us here to begin a discussion.

- Mike Marks

(Note: I am not a lawyer or patent agent. This post is based on my experience working with patents in product development and marketing and should not be taken as legal advice.)