6.11. Representations: Different views

The applicant will often supply drawings showing a range of views of the design so as to fully display its features.

It is important to check that:

• all of the views show the same design
• there is nothing in one representation that is not indicated or implied in another.

Note that environmental/reference views are additional to the representations that form part of the application. See Environmental views.

Traditional views

Traditional (or plan) views are normal 2-dimensional views of a product.

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Perspective and isometric views

Perspective and isometric views are 3-dimensional views that show height, width and depth. They can seem to show different designs because of the angle of the drawing.

Example

Product name: Cube

Representations:​​​​​​​

In this example, all 3 views show the same design but the different angles give the impression of visual differences. The representations are acceptable because it is clear that the impression of difference is only created by the angles.

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Section views

Section views show a hidden part of a product (internal features or other parts that a normal view would not adequately show) by cutting away or removing some of that product. The otherwise hidden parts must be indicated by oblique hatching.

Section views must be labelled accordingly and/or contain enough information to satisfy the examiner that the view is part of the product and not a separate product. There also needs to be at least one representation that shows the design in full.

Example of a section view properly labelled (Design 201510788)

Product name: A cooking vessel

Representations:​​​​​​​

Exploded views

Exploded views show the individual parts of a product (e.g. a bottle and its cap) separately to indicate how they fit together.

Exploded views must be labelled accordingly and/or contain enough information to satisfy the examiner that the view is part of the product and is not a separate product. There also needs to be at least one representation that shows the design in its full assembled state (e.g. a bottle with the cap on).​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The following example (Design 201410741) shows an ‘exploded’ view properly labelled. The representations show a fully assembled view in the front view and then the exploded view.

Product name: Bottle

Representations:​​​​​​​

More examples:

Product name: An eggcup with lid (Design 200513647)

Representations:​​​​​​​

This is acceptable because the exploded view is labelled clearly enough (even without using the word ‘exploded’) and the other view shows the whole design.

(Design 201710462)

Product name: Drinking vessel

Representations:​​​​​​​

This is acceptable because the exploded view is labelled clearly, and the other view shows the whole design.

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Configuration changes

Representations that show configuration changes are acceptable if the design can achieve the configuration change in normal use. For example, a telephone shown with and without the receiver on the cradle is still showing the same design.

There also needs to be at least one representation that shows the entire design – e.g. the phone with the receiver on the cradle.

Example of an acceptable set of representations showing different configurations:

Product name: Laptop computer

Representations:​​​​​​​

Close-ups

A close-up view highlights the details or specific parts of a product.

The exception to the rule about representations all being on the same scale/proportion is that close-ups of parts of a product are allowable, so long as:

• they are clearly labelled as such and are otherwise consistent with the other drawings
• there is also a representation showing the design in full.

Labelling

Close-up views must be labelled accordingly and/or contain enough information to satisfy the examiner that the view is part of the product and not a separate product.

Example of a representation that is unacceptable because it does not contain labelling and, if it is the sole representation, because it does not show the whole product:

Product name: Replaceable electric toothbrush head

Representations: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Example of an acceptable set of representations with a close-up view properly labelled and a view of the whole product:

Product name: Replaceable electric toothbrush head

Representations:

Example of representations where the close-ups are acceptable despite not using the word ‘close-up’.

Product name: Record player

Representations: