Background of the Invention: A section heading in the specification of
a U.S. patent application that includes a statement of the technical field of
the invention and a description of related art.
Bar, Statutory: A circumstance that prevents issuance of a valid
patent.
Base Claim: A claim from which another claim depends upon, either
directly or indirectly.
Basic Patent: The first member of a "family" of patents
(which may or may not be the first member published).
Best Mode: A patent application is required to disclose the best means
known to the applicant of practicing the invention as of the date of filing the
application.
Best Mode: The way of implementing the inventive concept contemplated
by the inventor on the filing date of the patent application.
Biological Material: Material referenced in the disclosure of a patent
application that is capable of self-replicating, either directly or indirectly.
Examples include bacteria, fungi including yeasts, algae, protozoa, eukaryotic
cells, cell lines, and plant tissue cells.
Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences: A board of senior examiners
that will hear the appeals of adverse patentability decisions of other
examiners.
