A patent claim that contains a nonexclusive list of elements, typically introduced by the phrase “consisting of.” • A later patent applicant cannot avoid infringement by merely adding an analogue to the list. Cf. closed-ended claim; nearly closed-ended claim.
A patent claim that expressly limits its scope to a list of elements, typically introduced by the phrase “consisting of.” Cf. nearly closed-ended claim; open-ended claim.
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A patent claim that limits its scope to a list of elements but does not expressly exclude close analogues. The claim is typically introduced by a phrase such as “consisting essentially of.” Cf. closed-ended claim; open-ended claim.
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comprising, adj. Patents. (In the transition between the preamble and the body of a patent claim) including; having. • This term does not limit the claim to the specified elements, so a later patent applicant’s product or process cannot avoid infringement by merely adding another claim element. See closed-ended claim under PA-TENT CLAIM.