A guide
to applying for your patent
13
Provisional specification
The purpose of a provisional specification is to describe your invention. It should include as much
detail as possible, especially if you intend to use it to establish a priority date. This is also important as
you may find that you are not allowed to add new material to your complete application that was not
included in your provisional application. Keep a copy of the provisional specification for your records. The
specification should include a Title and Description.
Title
Start the specification with the same invention title you used in the Patent Request form.
Description
After the title you should identify the technical field of your invention. If your invention was made as a
result of problems that you are aware of with other products, you should briefly note those problems.
The next part is a statement of those technical features you consider essential to the way your invention
works (see lines 10 to 13 of the ‘shaker can’ example). After this statement, list the various preferred or
optional features of your invention (see line 23 to page 2 line 4 of the example).
The remainder of the description sets out the best way or ways you know of putting your invention into
effect. This description must have enough clear detail so that someone with knowledge of the technology
could reproduce your invention from the information given. You may include examples and drawings to
help describe your invention, but it is not necessary to include manufacturing details such as dimensions
if they are not critical to the way your invention works. It is optional whether the provisional specification
also includes claims that define your invention.
The example specification describes in detail an improved ‘shaker can’ with reference to Figures 1
to 4. The figures are listed and a few words are given against each figure in the list to explain what it
illustrates. The features of the ‘shaker can’ illustrated in the figures have been given their own reference
numeral which is used when referring to those features in the description. Only one example of a ‘shaker
can’ according to the invention is described, but where an invention can take different forms it may be
desirable to describe several examples of the invention.
Note how the specification describes the material to be used in the “shaker can”. It makes it clear that a
range of materials could be used to make the invention work. Obviously some materials would be more
suitable than others, and certain specific examples are given on lines 2 to 4 of the sample specification.
The feature of a ‘container’ is an essential feature of the invention as the invention would not work without
it, while the use of sheet metal, for example, for the container is a preferred choice of material.
The example specification illustrates the importance of including a full description of your invention when
you file a provisional application.
A guide
to applying for your patent
14
Example: Provisional Specification
2
The shaker can is preferably made from sheet metal, however
other materials can also be used. For example glass containers
having sheet metal cover are found very suitable. The shaker
can may also be made of a suitable food grade plastics material.
The invention may be better understood with reference to the
illustrations of embodiments of the invention which:-
Figure 1 is an elevation of an improved shaker can with parts
separated and the co-acting position of the cover dotted,
Figures 2 and 3 are diametrical sectional elevations of the top of
a can showing the co-acting retaining means, and
Figure 4 is a similar view of the upper part of a cover having a
flanged or beaded gripping rim.
The container shown which is cylindrical with open top 5 has in its
wall near said top, perforations which form a shaker area 6, and
the cover 7 which is made to fit upon the container somewhat
tightly has in its wall a corresponding opening 8. To prevent
unintentional removal of the cover 7 there is provided in the walls
of the container and of the cover 7 complementarily positioned
co-acting outward or inward annular corrugations 9 which will
engage one with the other when the cover is pressed down upon
the top of the container and to facilitate assembly, the wall of
the cover may be cut inwardly from its edge as at 10. If desired
the cover may have a gripping rim or bead 11 formed thereon
or some bulbous projection of partial vertical and outwardly
disposed ribs or corrugations may be formed in the cover wall to
provide a secure grip when grasped by a hand.
1
IMPROVED SHAKER CAN
For many years shakers for salt and like granular materials have
consisted of a container having holes through which the material
can be shaken. This invention has been specially devised in order
to provide an improved shaker can of simple, cheap, effective
and readily reusable construction and whereby the contents are
protected from air and may be readily shaken or sifted therefrom
when desired, and unintentional or wasteful escape of said contents
is prevented.
A shaker can in accordance with this invention comprises a
container having an open top and a perforated shaker area in its wall
near said top, and a close fitting cover revolvable about said top and
having corresponding opening in its wall.
The opening in the cover is of such a size and in such a position that
when said opening and the shaker area are juxtaposed by revolution
of the cover upon the container the contents of the latter may be
shaken or sprinkled from the can through said perforated area, and
upon revolution of the cover so that the opening therein is beyond
said area the can is closed thus preventing waste of the contents or
deterioration of the same by access of air thereinto.
For revolvably retaining the cover upon the container, the cover and
the container preferably have in its wall a corresponding inward or
outward annular corrugation.
The cover is preferably removable so that the can may be recharged
and reused as often as desired. The cover wall may additionally
have a short cut inwardly from its edge to permit it to be sprung
down upon the container top until the corrugations engage one
within the other.
(Example front page)
AUSTRALIA
Patents Act 1990
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
IMPROVED SHAKER CAN
The invention is described in the
following statement