You can file a design patent application for the ornamental appearance of your product. That is, you can file a design patent application for your product for the overall look or design of your product (if the appearance is unique), even if the use or function of your product is the same as every other product on the market. For example, some tire companies file design patent applications all the time for the appearance of the tread on their tires.
What should I show in the drawings? The drawings should show the aspects of your design that you want to protect. For example, if your product is sold in an ordinary case, you may want the drawings to show that product that is inside of the case – not the case itself.
What views do I need to show in the drawings? You are required to show each view of your design in the drawings. Typically, the drawings should show a perspective (or 3-D) view of your design, and then right side, left side, top, bottom, front, and back views of the product. If two views are the same or mirror images of each other (for example, the right side and the left side views appear the same to an observer), then you can simply show one of these views and state in the design patent application that the other side view is a mirror image of the view that is shown in the drawings.
How much detail do I need to include in the drawings? The drawings should be as detailed as possible. Keep in mind that if you want to rely on a feature that is not shown in the drawings as a distinguishing feature of your design after you file the patent application, it will be difficult (if not impossible) to add these features to your design patent.
It is always better to provide “too much” detail, than not enough detail.
