Legal Definitions - patentable combination

Definition: A patentable combination refers to a group of process steps, mechanical elements, or materials that, when combined, produce a desirable result or effect that is not obvious from the individual components or steps.

Example 1: A company creates a new type of smartphone that combines a flexible screen with a foldable design. The combination of these two elements creates a unique product that is not obvious from the individual components.

Example 2: A scientist develops a new drug that combines two existing compounds in a way that produces a more effective treatment for a specific disease. The combination of the two compounds creates a new and non-obvious result.

These examples illustrate how a patentable combination can be created by combining existing elements in a unique and non-obvious way to produce a new and useful result. This type of combination can be patented to protect the inventor's intellectual property rights.