As you may know, the claims of a patent are the most important part of a patent. It is the claims that spell out what the invention is and what the patent legally covers. In fact, the claims are so important that when a patent lawyer drafts a patent application they will typically spend at least 50% of their time drafting the claims. It takes hours to get the claims just right.

This week a golf related patent application published with a rather interesting claim. The claim in US Publication No. 2007/0082752 is apparently directed to a new groove configuration that produces a desirable spin on the ball. The claim reads as follows:

1. I claim that this invention will influence the rotation of the golf ball when struck by a golf iron or golf driver.

Congratulations…

Perhaps only patent attorneys will find this entertaining, but to put it in perspective it would be akin to filing a property deed containing a geographical survey that you sketched on a napkin using a crayon after performed the survey of a 10 acre lot with a compass and a yardstick.

Dave Dawsey – The Golfing Patent Lawyer

PS – So if you are going to file a patent application without the services of a patent attorney at least go to the library and read some self-help legal books on patents (it may keep you from wasting at least $500 on filing fees).