Legal Definitions - exhausted combination

An exhausted combination is a type of combination that has already been patented or used before. It is also known as an old combination. This means that one or more elements in the combination work in a different way but still perform the same function as the corresponding element in a previously patented combination.

For example, if a new invention combines two elements that have already been patented separately, it may be considered an exhausted combination. The new invention may be patentable, but the combination may not be.

Another example of an exhausted combination is when a company forms an alliance with other companies to achieve a common economic goal. This is also known as a combination in restraint of trade.

Overall, an exhausted combination is a combination that has already been used or patented before, and may not be eligible for a new patent.