Sample Manufactured Article Answers
QUESTION:
A Brief Description of Your Invention
Please provide a short description (15 words max) of your invention. Tell us what your invention is or
what it does. This will be your invention's title.
E
Do not lead in with "It's a..." or "The invention is..." Just state what it is.
ANSWER:
PL
For example, if you had invented the light bulb, the title might be "A filament in a glass bulb for producing
illumination." Other examples could be "A wind turbine that protects birds," "A sound-activated light
switch" or "A means for determining a patient's appropriate dosage of medicine." This is not the place for
your brand name--just a description of your invention.
QUESTION:
M
A permeable, insertable substrate for use in microwave ovens enabling the microwave radiation to clean
the oven.
Purpose of Your Invention
What problem does your invention solve? Do not explain here HOW your invention solves the problem.
Discuss ONLY the problem itself. Please answer in complete sentences.
SA
ANSWER:
Microwave ovens are difficult to clean, especially because heating certain items (e.g. tomato sauce or
other items with a low boiling point) causes those items to combust and coat the inside of the oven with
residue.
QUESTION:
In a few sentences, please describe how your invention solves the problem described above.
ANSWER:
This substrate coats the inside walls, including bottom and top, of the microwave oven and utilizes the
ovens radiation to loosen waste particles from the inside of the oven.
QUESTION:
How Your Invention is an Improvement
In a sentence or two, please describe how your invention is different from and better than anything that
exists in its field.
ANSWER:
E
Prior to this invention, the only way to clean a microwave oven was manually. This invention renders
manual cleaning largely unnecessary, or, at the very least, limits the amount of work required.
QUESTION:
ANSWER:
PL
How Your Invention is an Improvement (Continued)
In a sentence or two, explain the problems with the other devices or systems in the field of your invention.
QUESTION:
M
Manual cleaning of microwave ovens is labor-intensive and inefficient. Microwave ovens are small,
allowing for relatively little force to be exerted in the manual cleaning process. Any more abrasive
cleaning tools that might limit the required force would damage the oven surfaces and reduce the
appliance's life and safety.
In a sentence or two, explain why these devices or systems don't work well.
SA
ANSWER:
Manual cleaning of microwave ovens is inefficient and, as a result, microwave ovens are generally left
somewhat unclean. If cleaned more thoroughly, they are likely damaged in the process.
QUESTION:
In a sentence or two, describe how your invention improves on them.
ANSWER:
The invention described here reduces the effort required to clean a microwave oven by loosening waste
particles, thereby allowing their removal with a simple swiping motion using a non-abrasive cloth or
towel. This results in decreased effort, increased cleanliness and longer appliance life.
QUESTION:
Items or Steps that Make Up Your Invention
Please list the individual components or elements that make up the best version of your invention. For
mechanical, electrical, and manufactured inventions, this includes all components, elements, and parts.
For method, process, and software inventions, this includes all steps, decisions, and any necessary
physical items.
E
Please be as detailed as necessary to convey an understanding of each element, but you do not need to
describe each element's function here--we will ask for that information later. For example, what is done
with a particular component is not required here--only the component itself should be listed.
Please number each item according to its number on any accompanying drawing(s).
PL
ANSWER:
Malleable thread made of minimally-conductive metal
Fabric thread (natural or synthetic)
Adhesive backing with non-adhesive covering
QUESTION:
ANSWER:
M
Relationship Between the Components
Please describe the relationship between your invention's components, elements or steps. Please use the
Item Numbers you assigned to each item on the previous page, when you listed all of them.
SA
The (1) metal and (2) fabric threads are woven together to create a solid substrate in the form of a sheet.
The (3) adhesive backing is placed on one side of the sheet at regular intervals with non-adhesive covering
left in place to prevent premature attachment.
QUESTION:
How Does Your Invention Work?
How do the components, steps or elements of your invention work individually and together to cause the
whole invention to perform its desired function? This section is extremely important and should be
completed carefully. See Help to learn more.
ANSWER:
The sheet is first cut to fit the interior of a given microwave oven, and attached to that interior by means of
(3) the adhesive backing. The blend of (1) minimally-conductive metal and (2) fabric create a minimally
combustive reaction that utilizes the microwave's own radiation and reflects that energy back into the
oven. That reflected energy then permeates the substrate sheet to reach and loosen any waste particles
adhering to the oven's interior. When the sheet is removed, underlying waste particles will be carried with
the removed sheet, and remaining particles can be wiped away with a minimum of effort and without
damaging abrasives.
QUESTION:
How to Make the Invention
How would a person make the invention? Answering this question is extremely important to enable your
Provisional Application to function as it should. Please answer carefully and in as much detail as possible.
E
ANSWER:
QUESTION:
PL
Once the metal and fabric thread are procured, they must be woven together at regular intervals to allow
for an even blend of conductivity and permeability. One could accomplish this weaving process oneself
given an appropriate sewing apparatus, or could outsource the weaving process to a commercial or
specialized enterprise. The resulting sheet would then be backed with the adhesive backing for later
attachment to an oven's interior. The non-adhesive covering is placed directly on the adhesive backing.
ANSWER:
M
Which elements are necessary? Which are optional? What elements could be added to make your
invention work better? Please use complete sentences.
SA
All elements are necessary. Guidelines could be placed on the sheet itself that match standard microwave
oven interior dimensions, to better enable sizing prior to attachment.
QUESTION:
How to Use the Invention
How would a person use the invention to solve the problem that your invention solves? This is another
very important section: Please be specific about the steps involved.
ANSWER:
The sheet must be measured against the microwave's interior, then cut to fit. When the user arrives at the
appropriate size, the non-adhesive covering of the adhesive backing is removed and the sheet attached to
the oven's interior, being sure to cover all interior surfaces without in any way affecting the sheet's
integrity.