608.01(k)    Statutory Requirement of Claims [R-08.2012]

35 U.S.C. 112  requires that the applicant shall particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which he or she regards as his or her invention. The portion of the application in which he or she does this forms the claim or claims. This is an important part of the application, as it is the definition of that for which protection is granted.