Patent benefits
You cannot patent “benefits”. A valid product patent needs a “new” and “inventive” feature. In respect of each benefit, ask:
What feature did I add to yield that benefit
Then query:
- is that added feature “new”?
- is adding that feature “inventive” (i.e. not obvious to an expert)?
For example:
| Benefit | New feature | New? | Inventive? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modular | Connectors that releasably secure a first module to a second module | Unlikely – most connectors “realeasably connect”, even nails and screws | Unlikely |
| Flat pack | (i) Merely “disassembled” | No | No |
| (ii) Components designed to nest within each other | Unlikely, unless includes new nesting features | Unlikely | |
| Eco-friendly / recyclable | Generally, due to the material used | Maybe | Generally, not |
| Lighter | (i) New material used | Maybe | Generally, not |
| (ii) Removed components | No | No | |
| More rugged | (i) New material used | Maybe | Generally, not |
| (ii) Addition of “strengthening ribs” | Maybe | Generally, not | |
| (iii) Increased wall thickness | No | No | |
| Easier to manufacture | “New step” (irrespective of product type) in the manufacturing process | Maybe | Generally, not |
| Cheaper | (i) New material used | Maybe | Generally, not |
| (ii) Absence of a feature | No | No | |
| More energy efficient | (i) Mere substitution of a high-power consumption component (e.g. incandescent light) with a component having a lower power consumption (e.g. LED light). | No | No |
| (ii) Controller that monitors / forecasts usage and regulates power consumption | Maybe | Maybe |
If: the feature that has been added to yield the benefit is “new” (i.e. never been placed on that product before) and; addition of that feature would not be considered obvious by an expert in the field, you likely have something patentable. But, don’t confuse “a new feature” with “a new type of feature”. For instance in the world of incandescent lights, an LED light is a new “type” of light, but both are lights. So, if an incandescent light was previously included in the product, substituting it with an LED light is not adding a “new feature”.
For further tips on how to draft a patent, see our Patent Template.