English in patents (9)

1 Name: channel 24 : 2008-02-04 06:42 ID:25jrB+Mr

Why do many patent specifications use an (indefinite or definite) article plus name of element plus reference number? For example, "the device 10."
This is against grammar, but I guess there is a historical or legal background because many patent specifications use this.

2 Name: channel 24 : 2008-02-04 16:55 ID:Heaven

The poster is the gay.

3 Name: Anonymous Linguist : 2008-02-06 03:56 ID:Heaven

An example would help.
I can't find any in Google patent search.
My guess is lazy bureaucrats.

4 Name: channel 24 : 2008-02-07 06:16 ID:25jrB+Mr

For example, US patent 6299604 (Abstract and Description)
"A coated implantable medical device 10" includes
"a structure 12" ...
"The porous layer 20" includes a polymer ...

5 Name: Anonymous Linguist : 2008-02-07 11:01 ID:YP+Q/R22

so i guess what you're saying is that in normal englishes the wording "[something or another] [identifying number]" suppresses the article while in patents they don't do that.

my guess is an archaic holdover for this particular english subset. don't feel like trying to go through esoteric early modern english works to confirm it though.

really though that phenomenon interests me. what other situations suppress an article?

6 Name: Anonymous Linguist : 2008-02-15 22:48 ID:KEVcMmSF

saying "the device 10" is easier than saying "the device which is labeled as being the tenth part"

7 Name: Anonymous Linguist : 2008-02-16 12:54 ID:doVDvY4Q

"device 10" is easier still though.

8 Name: Anonymous Linguist : 2008-02-16 14:20 ID:66IbhJii

>>7

There will undoubtedly be some legal reason for it, probably related to the fact that patents have to be very specific and thorough.

9 Name: Anonymous Linguist : 2008-02-23 06:26 ID:+sEv9dVc

The numbers are for quick reference to images, similar to asterisks.

They aren't part of the sentence, and you shouldn't consider them as such if you need to mentally translate what you're reading.

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