Chemical Decomposition.—The separation of a compound with its original elements.
Circularize.—To send out circulars to a list of names.
Cite.—To quote a reference to an authority.
Citation.—An article or patent quoted by a patent examiner as a basis for the rejection of a patent application or of a claim.
Claim.—The last part of a patent specification in which the inventor clearly and specifically sets forth what his invention consists of and what he demands to have protected by a patent.
Claim, Broad.—(1) A broad claim is one in which the inventor claims everything in sight and usually more than he is entitled to. (2) It is easy to write a broad claim but hard to get it allowed.
Claim, Narrow.—(1) A narrow, or limited claim is one in which a patent attorney puts in so many elements or parts that the combination is bound to be patentable. (2) Such a claim has no value because it is easy for another to change an element or a part when the combination no longer infringes. (3) The hardest thing that an inventor has to contend with is to get a claim written so that it will stand in court.
Coincide.—Exactly corresponding to or meeting.
Conceive.—To get an idea.
Commission Merchant.—A man who stands between the manufacturer and the wholesaler and who gets a percentage on the amount of goods that change hands.