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The table below outline the most commonly referred to sections of a patent document. Please note that it is not a comprehensive list.
The bibliographic data on the front page of a patent document is identified by the use of "Internationally agreed Numbers for the Identification of bibliographic Data" (INID) codes in parentheses, brackets or circles. INID codes are defined under WIPO Standard ST.9
| INID Code(s) | Element | Description |
|---|---|---|
| (10) | Number of the patent | Patents are numbered sequentially according when they are granted/issued. |
| (45) | Date of patent | Date the patent was granted, or issued. Date the patent document was made available to the public |
| (54) | Title of the invention | Brief statement of the function of the invention |
| (71) | Applicant | The individual, company, or organization that filed the patent application. |
| (72), (75), or (76) | Inventor(s) | Individual(s) who contributed to the invention. |
| (73) | Assignee(s) | Owner of the patent at the time it was issued. Typically a company or organization (i.e., the inventor's employer), but can also be a person. |
| (56) | References Cited | List of publicly available "prior art" documents, or publications, that the inventor and patent examiner reviewed to determine the patentability (new and non-obvious) of the invention. |
| (57) | Abstract | A brief, non-technical description of the invention. Allows people to understand the general nature of the patent. |
| (52) | National Classification | Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) code(s) assigned to the patent. |
| - | Drawings |
(Not required for all patents). Black and white illustration(s) the technical details of the invention. The patent office selects one representative drawing to appear on the front page of the patent. |
| - | Claims | Most important part of the patent! Define the scope of the patent rights. Each claim represents a unique set of rights held by the patent holder. The first claim is usually the broadest. Patents must have at lease one claim, but may have more than one. |
Donald, K. E., Kabir, K. M. M., & Donald, W. A. (2018). Tips for reading patents: a concise introduction for scientists. Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents, 28(4), 277–280. https://doi.org/10.1080/13543776.2018.1438409
University of Michigan Engineering. (2014). Anatomy of a patent [Video].
White, M. & Queen's University Library (2025). How to read a U.S. patent [Guide].
World Intellectual Property Organization. (2024). Standard St. 9: Recommendation concerning bibliographic data on and relating to patents and spcs.