A patent claim is a component of a patent application whereby the extent or scope of the protection being sought or conferred is outlined.
There are usually many claims within a patent application with each of these defining the subject-matter and what protections are being sought.
Arguably the most important part of a patent application, patent claims define the boundaries of the invention and once approved, determine what is and is not covered when a patent is granted.
Accuracy
Due to the importance of patent claims, accuracy in their composition and submission is vital. Improper preparation of patent claims can lead to insufficient protection of an invention being achieved.
For this reason, patent claims and patent applications overall, are best managed by a patent attorney. This ensures all integral aspects of an invention are accounted for and that the optimal level of protection is applied for with the patent filing. In many cases self prepared claims are invalid and lead to no valid patent protection.