How to Draft an Invention Disclosure in Under 2 Hours

An invention disclosure form is the document that captures everything your patent attorney needs to begin drafting your application. A thorough disclosure saves attorney time (and your money), ensures nothing is missed, and creates a dated record of your invention. This tutorial walks you through completing the iInvent Invention Disclosure Form in a structured 2-hour session.

Before You Start

Gather: your inventor's notebook or development records, any sketches or CAD files, photographs of prototypes, results from any testing, and your prior art search results. Having these at hand eliminates delays during the session.

The 2-Hour Session

Minutes 0–15: Inventor Information and Summary

Fill in your name, contact details, employer (if any), and date of conception. Write a 2–3 sentence summary of what the invention does and what problem it solves — in plain language, as if explaining to a non-technical friend.

Minutes 15–40: Problem and Solution

Describe the specific problem your invention solves — not in technical terms, but in terms of what goes wrong for the user. Describe how existing solutions address the problem and why they are inadequate. Then describe how your invention solves the problem differently or better — the mechanism, structure, or process that makes it work. This is the core of the disclosure. Be specific about what is new.

Minutes 40–70: Technical Details

List every component, material, step, or element of the invention — number them sequentially. These may become the elements of your patent claims. Then — critically — list every alternative embodiment and variation you can think of. Different materials, different dimensions, different configurations, different applications. Your patent attorney needs these to draft broad claims. If you describe only one version, the patent may be limited to that version.

Minutes 70–90: Prior Art and Disclosure History

List every existing patent, product, publication, or technology you are aware of that relates to your invention. Describe how your invention differs from each. Then document any public disclosures you have made — trade shows, investor pitches, social media posts, conversations without NDAs. Include dates. If you have disclosed publicly, flag this as urgent.

Minutes 90–110: Drawings and Commercial Assessment

Attach or create labelled sketches — every component numbered, every view showing a different aspect. Note your target market, target jurisdictions for patent filing, and preferred commercialisation path (licensing, self-manufacturing, or assignment).

Minutes 110–120: Review and Sign

Read through the entire form once. Check that every alternative embodiment you can think of is listed. Sign and date.

Download the Template

Use the iInvent Invention Disclosure Form template — it provides structured fields for each section with annotation notes explaining what to include.

Sources

1. USPTO — Patent Application Process — Overview of what information is needed for a patent application
2. MPEP § 608 — Specification — Requirements for patent specification content that invention disclosures should address
3. WIPO — Inventor Resources — General guidance for inventors preparing patent applications