Commonwealth Numbered Regulations

1991 No. 71 PATENTS REGULATIONS - REG 3.3

3.3 (1) An abstract must consist of:

   (a)  a summary of the disclosure as contained in the description, the
        claims and any drawings, being a summary:

        (i)    that indicates the technical field to which the invention
               pertains; and

        (ii)   that is drafted in a way that allows the clear understanding of
               the technical problem, the gist of the solution of that problem
               through the invention, and the principal use or uses of the
               invention; and

   (b)  if applicable, any chemical formula that, among all the formulas
        contained in the specification, best characterises the invention; and

   (c)  if applicable, the number of any drawing that the applicant recommends
        should accompany the abstract.

(2) An abstract must be as concise as the disclosure permits, preferably 50 to
150 words.

(3) An abstract must not contain statements on the alleged merits or value of
the claimed invention or on its speculative application.

(4) Each main technical feature mentioned in the abstract and illustrated by a
drawing in the specification must be followed by a reference sign placed
between parentheses.

(5) An abstract must be so drafted that it can efficiently serve as a scanning
tool for the purposes of searching in the particular art, especially by
assisting in the formulation of an opinion on whether there is a need to
consult the specification itself for those purposes.