Description

Comment

STEP 0: Confidentiality agreement 

A signed form is sent to the client, for review. The client signs, keeps a copy, and returns the original form for our records. 

Some clients prefer a confidentiality agreement, whereas others choose to skip this step. A sample form can be found here as PDF file for your review. Should this step be preferred please let us know.

STEP 1:
Submission Requirements

a) Provision of the informal figures/sketches from the client.

This may involve informal copies via regular mail or courier, or scanned documents via email (max limit 10Mb).
 Some clients choose to submit CAD files directly, which is also acceptable. Our software is compatible with the following formats: IGES, STEP, Autocad DXF, DWG, Rhino 3dm, Illustrator and PDF.

b) In case of a utility patent, a copy of the patent specification text (or a numeral list) if available, is respectfully requested. 

This is an important step to ensure accuracy and to enable reference numeral diagnostics.

STEP 2: Processing

• An estimate can be offered (if requested)
• Formal drawings will be prepared in compliance to the suggested standards from the PCT and/or USPTO. A common denominator from both standards is used so that the finished work is compliant without needing further changes.

 In the background our work process involves three, all digital, phases: a) vectorization, b) shading and c) numeral application.
The Vectorization aspect ensures razor-sharp lines and may involve a "shallow copy" (such as tracing over), or a "deep copy" (such as reconstructing the geometry in 3D space); where both functions are equivalent and do not reflect on price. A "deep copy" offers the ability to tweak the vantage point of some perspective views so as to improve clarity.

• Depending on the availability of the specification text (or a numeral list) the informal sketches will be interpreted as accurately as possible and some diagnostics will be performed to ensure consistency between figures as well as one-to-one numeral correspondence to the text.

If no text is supplied, then a verbatim reproduction is attempted. However, please be advised that in the absence of the text, any errors/inconsistencies of the informals might also be transferred to the new figures.

STEP 3: Delivery

• Upon completion, the client will receive (for review) the proposed final figures as a PDF file (or tiff for electronic filing, or jpeg for trademarks), via email, along with a report of any comments, errors or inconsistencies found (if any) and the invoice for the work completed.

Turnaround times vary depending on workload. The client is advised to consult the indicator here, prior to contacting us, to get a feel of the possible delivery date.

• Upon review, the client may choose to apply minor / major adjustments (in view of the comments).
• Client may use the utility drawing PDF files (or tiff images) for filing, or may opt to receive hard copies on photo quality matte A4 paper.
• The final utility drawings (either PDF form or printed sheets) are by default on A4 dimensions unless otherwise specified.  

-Minor adjustments (e.g. numerals) are assigned a decimal revision number (e.g. rev0.2) and are performed at no cost.
-Major adjustments, such as figure additions, or extensive  feature revisions or recanting (e.g. for on-going non-filed projects where the client chooses to evolve the original on the go) are assigned whole revision numbers and are accompanied with supplemental invoices for the additional work completed.

STEP 4: Archiving

• The client submitted materials (such as physical copies of informal drawings) are archived for a period of 7 years and the finished work is archived in electronic form indefinitely.