About claims XI - MPEP Section 608.01(n)

MPEP Section 608.01(n)規範了附屬項(dependent claims)的形式
之前已介紹37 CFR 1.75規範了Claim的寫作原則
http://enpan.blogspot.com/2008/09/about-claims-x-37-cfr-175.html

然此則提出一些可接受，與不適當的附屬項的形式(Improper Multiple Dependent Claims)：
一般並不建議使用多重附屬項，因為多重附屬項應該都可切分為多個單一附屬項，只不過，多重附屬項在讀Claim時，有時是十分符合我們人的邏輯，可讀性有時蠻好的

此節描述可被接受的多重附屬項形式
A. Acceptable Multiple Dependent Claim Wording

Claim 5. A gadget according to claims 3 or 4, further comprising --- (這是最標準的多重附屬項)
Claim 5. A gadget as in any one of the preceding claims, in which --- (這在部分歐洲國家常常看到)
Claim 5. A gadget as in any one of claims 1, 2, and 3, in which --- (這也多半在歐洲國家中看到)
Claim 3. A gadget as in either claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising ---
Claim 4. A gadget as in claim 2 or 3, further compri­sing --- (差不多)
Claim 16. A gadget as in claims 1, 7, 12, or 15, further comprising ---
Claim 5. A gadget as in any of the preceding claims, in which ---
Claim 8. A gadget as in one of claims 4-7, in which --- (這也算常見)
Claim 5. A gadget as in any preceding claim, in which ---
Claim 10. A gadget as in any of claims 1-3 or 7-9, in which ---
Claim 11. A gadget as in any one of claims 1, 2, or 7-10 inclusive, in which ---

列舉一個核准的英國專利：GB1102836
這件專利的Claim包括了好幾種以上的多重附屬項寫法

在此節描述不可接受的多重附屬項形式：
B. Unacceptable Multiple Dependent Claim Wording

1. Claim Does Not Refer Back in the Alternative Only (沒有以選擇的形式)

Claim 5. A gadget according to claim 3 and 4, further comprising ---
Claim 9. A gadget according to claims 1-3, in which ---
Claim 9. A gadget as in claims 1 or 2 and 7 or 8, which ---
Claim 6. A gadget as in the preceding claims in which ---
Claim 6. A gadget as in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and/or 5, in which ---
Claim 10. A gadget as in claims 1-3 or 7-9, in which ---

2. Claim Does Not Refer to a Preceding Claim (沒有向前項依附)

Claim 3. A gadget as in any of the following claims, in which ---
Claim 5. A gadget as in either claim 6 or claim 8, in which --- (Claim 6與8在Claim 5之後)

3. Reference to Two Sets of Claims to Different Features (產生兩個不同技術特徵，不符Claim寫作，範圍不明)

Claim 9. A gadget as in claim 1 or 4 made by the process of claims 5, 6, 7, or 8, in which ---

4. Reference Back to Another Multiple Dependent Claim (多重附屬項依附至另一多重附屬項)

Claim 8. A gadget as in claim 5 (claim 5 is a multiple dependent claim) or claim 7, in which ---

608.01(n)另外提及：

1. 多重附屬項可能會遭遇限制要求(restriction)，如果一個多重附屬項中包括兩個實施例，當其中一個實施例於限制性選擇而暫時撤回(withdraw)時，此項同樣應withdraw
2. 多重附屬項的審查費將不同於拆成個單一附屬項(singular)的總合
   下圖顯示多重附屬項非常貴
   
   
3. 經過修正的Claim，應小心查閱依附項次的更正

Ron