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Notes

37 C.F.R. §§ 1.141–1.146

6 sections in range

§1.141. Different inventions in one national application.

37 C.F.R. § 1.141

(a)
Two or more independent and distinct inventions may not be claimed in one national application, except that more than one species of an invention, not to exceed a reasonable number, may be specifically claimed in different claims in one national application, provided the application also includes an allowable claim generic to all the claimed species and all the claims to species in excess of one are written in dependent form (§ 1.75) or otherwise include all the limitations of the generic claim.
(b)
Where claims to all three categories, product, process of making, and process of use, are included in a national application, a three way requirement for restriction can only be made where the process of making is distinct from the product. If the process of making and the product are not distinct, the process of using may be joined with the claims directed to the product and the process of making the product even though a showing of distinctness between the product and process of using the product can be made.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Amendments

[52 FR 20046, May 28, 1987]

Authority

Authority: Secs. 1.141 to 1.147 also issued under 35 U.S.C. 121.

Authority

Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 24 FR 10332, Dec. 22, 1959, unless otherwise noted.

Amendments

[52 FR 20046, May 28, 1987]

§1.142. Requirement for restriction.

37 C.F.R. § 1.142

(a)
If two or more independent and distinct inventions are claimed in a single application, the examiner in an Office action will require the applicant in the reply to that action to elect an invention to which the claims will be restricted, this official action being called a requirement for restriction (also known as a requirement for division). Such requirement will normally be made before any action on the merits; however, it may be made at any time before final action.
(b)
Claims to the invention or inventions not elected, if not canceled, are nevertheless withdrawn from further consideration by the examiner by the election, subject however to reinstatement in the event the requirement for restriction is withdrawn or overruled.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Amendments

[24 FR 10332, Dec. 22, 1959, as amended at 62 FR 53195, Oct. 10, 1997; 72 FR 46842, Aug. 21, 2007; 74 FR 52691, Oct. 14, 2009]

Authority

Authority: Secs. 1.141 to 1.147 also issued under 35 U.S.C. 121.

Authority

Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 24 FR 10332, Dec. 22, 1959, unless otherwise noted.

Amendments

[24 FR 10332, Dec. 22, 1959, as amended at 62 FR 53195, Oct. 10, 1997; 72 FR 46842, Aug. 21, 2007; 74 FR 52691, Oct. 14, 2009]

§1.143. Reconsideration of requirement.

37 C.F.R. § 1.143

If the applicant disagrees with the requirement for restriction, he may request reconsideration and withdrawal or modification of the requirement, giving the reasons therefor. (See § 1.111.) In requesting reconsideration the applicant must indicate a provisional election of one invention for prosecution, which invention shall be the one elected in the event the requirement becomes final The requirement for restriction will be reconsidered on such a request. If the requirement is repeated and made final the examiner will at the same time act on the claims to the invention elected.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Authority

Authority: Secs. 1.141 to 1.147 also issued under 35 U.S.C. 121.

Authority

Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 24 FR 10332, Dec. 22, 1959, unless otherwise noted.

§1.144. Petition from requirement for restriction.

37 C.F.R. § 1.144

After a final requirement for restriction, the applicant, in addition to making any reply due on the remainder of the action, may petition the Director to review the requirement. Petition may be deferred until after final action on or allowance of claims to the invention elected, but must be filed not later than appeal. A petition will not be considered if reconsideration of the requirement was not requested (see § 1.181).
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Amendments

[62 FR 53195, Oct. 10, 1997]

Authority

Authority: Secs. 1.141 to 1.147 also issued under 35 U.S.C. 121.

Authority

Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 24 FR 10332, Dec. 22, 1959, unless otherwise noted.

Amendments

[62 FR 53195, Oct. 10, 1997]

§1.145. Subsequent presentation of claims for different invention.

37 C.F.R. § 1.145

If, after an Office action on an application, the applicant presents claims directed to an invention distinct from and independent of the invention previously claimed, the applicant will be required to restrict the claims to the invention previously claimed if the amendment is entered, subject to reconsideration and review as provided in §§ 1.143 and 1.144.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Amendments

[74 FR 52691, Oct. 14, 2009]

Authority

Authority: Secs. 1.141 to 1.147 also issued under 35 U.S.C. 121.

Authority

Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 24 FR 10332, Dec. 22, 1959, unless otherwise noted.

Amendments

[74 FR 52691, Oct. 14, 2009]

§1.146. Election of species.

37 C.F.R. § 1.146

In the first action on an application containing a generic claim to a generic invention (genus) and claims to more than one patentably distinct species embraced thereby, the examiner may require the applicant in the reply to that action to elect a species of his or her invention to which his or her claim will be restricted if no claim to the genus is found to be allowable. However, if such application contains claims directed to more than a reasonable number of species, the examiner may require restriction of the claims to not more than a reasonable number of species before taking further action in the application.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

Amendments

[62 FR 53195, Oct. 10, 1997]

Authority

Authority: Secs. 1.141 to 1.147 also issued under 35 U.S.C. 121.

Authority

Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), unless otherwise noted.

Source

Source: 24 FR 10332, Dec. 22, 1959, unless otherwise noted.

Amendments

[62 FR 53195, Oct. 10, 1997]