An apparatus claim is a patent claim that describes define a device or system that usually has active components. An apparatus claim defines the invention in terms of the components of the invention, that is, in terms of what the invention is as opposed t

Under the European Patent Convention, when a claim in one particular category (see below), e.g. a process claim, depends on a claim from a different category, e.g. a product claim, it is not considered to be a dependent claim but an independent claim.