Legal Definitions - aggregation

Aggregation is a term used in patents to describe a set of parts that do not work together in structure or function. This means that they cannot be patented as an invention. It is the opposite of a combination, which is a set of parts that work together to produce a new or unexpected result.

For example, a football team is a combination because each player has a specific role that contributes to the team's success. On the other hand, a track team is an aggregation because each player has a different role that contributes to the team's overall score, but they do not work together in the same way as a football team.

It is important to note that an aggregation may or may not be a patentable combination. This depends on whether the claims clearly explain how the parts work together to produce a new or unexpected result.