# ScopeDOPE™ — Provisional Patent Filing Guide
## Wireless Scope Label Printing Workflow

**Cold Bore Ballistics™ LLC**
**Date:** 2026-06-01
**Status:** Working guide — not legal advice. Consult a registered patent attorney before filing the non-provisional.

---

## Table of Contents

1. [What This Guide Covers](#1-what-this-guide-covers)
2. [What a Provisional Does and Does Not Do](#2-what-a-provisional-does-and-does-not-do)
3. [Timeline and Deadlines](#3-timeline-and-deadlines)
4. [Phase 1 — Prior Art Search](#4-phase-1--prior-art-search)
5. [Phase 2 — Define the Invention Before Writing](#5-phase-2--define-the-invention-before-writing)
6. [Phase 3 — Write the Specification](#6-phase-3--write-the-specification)
   - [6.1 Title](#61-title)
   - [6.2 Background / Problem Statement](#62-background--problem-statement)
   - [6.3 Summary of the Invention](#63-summary-of-the-invention)
   - [6.4 Brief Description of Drawings](#64-brief-description-of-drawings)
   - [6.5 Detailed Description](#65-detailed-description)
   - [6.6 Informal Claims (Optional but Recommended)](#66-informal-claims-optional-but-recommended)
7. [Phase 4 — Drawings and Figures](#7-phase-4--drawings-and-figures)
8. [Phase 5 — File at USPTO Patent Center](#8-phase-5--file-at-uspto-patent-center)
9. [Phase 6 — After Filing](#9-phase-6--after-filing)
10. [Preparing for Non-Provisional Conversion](#10-preparing-for-non-provisional-conversion)
11. [Costs](#11-costs)
12. [Writing Principles for This Invention](#12-writing-principles-for-this-invention)

---

## 1. What This Guide Covers

This guide covers the provisional patent application for the **wireless scope label printing workflow** — the complete pipeline from a ballistic computing application to a physical printed scope correction label delivered via wireless connection to a thermal label printer.

This is the IP asset identified in `COLD_BORE_STARTUP_GUIDE.md` §5 and `SCOPEDOPE_VALUATION_BRIEF.md` §3 as the strongest patent candidate. The startup guide targets filing at ~5,000 installs with an attorney. This guide covers doing the **provisional only** on your own to establish priority now, before launch, while preserving the option to engage an attorney for the non-provisional later.

**Who does the work:**
- Founder: knows the invention; writes the technical content
- Partner (legal background): reviews for language precision, coverage gaps, and overly narrow phrasing

---

## 2. What a Provisional Does and Does Not Do

**What it does:**
- Establishes a priority date — the date that matters in any future dispute over who invented this first
- Allows you to use the phrase "Patent Pending" from the filing date forward
- Gives you 12 months to file the non-provisional (the real application with examined claims) while keeping the original priority date

**What it does not do:**
- Get examined by the USPTO
- Grant any patent rights
- Expire into anything useful — if you do not file the non-provisional within 12 months, the provisional lapses and the priority date is lost
- Become public — provisionals are not published

**The one thing that matters:** The quality of the written description. The non-provisional's claims cannot be broader than what the provisional described. A vague or narrow provisional creates a vague or narrow ceiling on the eventual patent. Write it wide and thorough.

---

## 3. Timeline and Deadlines

| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| **Now (pre-launch)** | File provisional — locks priority before any public disclosure |
| **Launch** | "Patent Pending" can appear in app and marketing materials |
| **Filing date + 12 months** | **Hard deadline** — non-provisional must be filed or priority date is permanently lost |
| **~5,000 installs** | Engage patent attorney for non-provisional; use provisional as the foundation |

**Why file before launch:** The US has a one-year grace period after public disclosure for US-only filings. But for international rights (PCT, European, etc.), the application must be filed **before** any public disclosure — no grace period. Filing the provisional before the app goes live preserves all options.

---

## 4. Phase 1 — Prior Art Search

The provisional does not legally require a prior art search, but doing one before writing protects you from discovering a blocking patent after you have invested time. It also helps you understand how to differentiate your invention in the description.

**Where to search:**

- [ ] **USPTO Patent Full-Text Database** — search at patft.uspto.gov or patents.google.com
- [ ] **Google Patents** — easier interface; use it first
- [ ] **Espacenet** — European Patent Office database; covers international filings

**Search terms to run (each as a separate search; combine as needed):**

- [ ] `ballistic` AND `print`
- [ ] `scope correction` AND `label`
- [ ] `ballistic` AND `bluetooth` AND `printer`
- [ ] `firing solution` AND `print`
- [ ] `ballistic calculator` AND `label printer`
- [ ] `precision rifle` AND `printer`
- [ ] `shooting data` AND `wireless` AND `print`

**CPC classification codes to browse (Google Patents filter):**

- [ ] `F41G1/00` — Sighting devices for firearms (parent class — browse subclasses)
- [ ] `F41G3/00` — Ballistic computers and fire-control systems
- [ ] `B41J3/407` — Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms for printing on labels

**What to do with what you find:**

- [ ] For each result that looks relevant: read the abstract and claims
- [ ] Document any patents that describe wireless printing of shooting/ballistic data — these are the closest prior art
- [ ] Note what those patents claim and what they do NOT claim — the gaps are where your claims live
- [ ] If nothing combines ballistic session output + wireless + physical printed label: confirm this in your notes. The search itself is your evidence that the combination is novel.

**Target outcome:** A short note (can be a comment in the specification itself) confirming no identified prior art covers the complete pipeline: ballistic computing application → wireless transmission → thermal label printer → physical scope correction output.

---

## 5. Phase 2 — Define the Invention Before Writing

Before writing a word of the specification, agree on what the invention is and where its edges are. This prevents accidental narrowing during drafting.

Work through each question and write down the agreed answer before moving to Phase 3.

### 5.1 What is the core claim?

- [ ] Write one sentence describing the most essential thing that is novel:
  > "A method of producing a physical precision rifle scope correction reference by generating a formatted correction layout within a ballistic computing application and transmitting that layout wirelessly to a thermal label printer."

### 5.2 What must be true for the invention to exist? (essential elements)

These become the independent claim elements. Every limitation you add here narrows the patent. Keep this list short.

- [ ] A computing device running ballistic software
- [ ] The software computes corrections (elevation, windage, or both) for at least one distance
- [ ] The corrections are rendered into a printable layout
- [ ] The layout is transmitted wirelessly to a printer
- [ ] The printer produces physical output

**Do not add** Niimbot, Android, BLE, or ScopeDOPE specifically here — those are embodiments, not essential elements.

### 5.3 What are the embodiments? (optional enhancements — these become dependent claims)

Write down every variation you can think of. Each one should be described in the specification even if you do not write formal claims.

- [ ] BLE as the wireless protocol
- [ ] Thermal label printer specifically
- [ ] Label intended for affixing to a rifle scope or stock
- [ ] Corrections in MRAD units
- [ ] Corrections in MOA units
- [ ] Multiple distances on a single label
- [ ] Environmental conditions (temperature, pressure, humidity, wind) displayed on label
- [ ] Ammunition name and lot number on label
- [ ] QR code on label linking to the digital session
- [ ] Label format selection (different sizes, orientations)
- [ ] Automatic print trigger after session completion
- [ ] Manual user-initiated print
- [ ] Shared-sensor mode (multiple users sharing one weather sensor feeding one print workflow)
- [ ] Session data stored in a portable file format before or after printing
- [ ] PNG export of the label layout as an alternative output
- [ ] iOS platform as an additional embodiment (same workflow, different OS)
- [ ] Tablet as the computing device (in addition to smartphone)

### 5.4 What is explicitly NOT part of the invention?

Knowing what to exclude helps avoid over-claiming.

- [ ] The ballistic engine methodology itself (DOPE-Blend™ is a separate potential IP asset — keep it out of this patent)
- [ ] The weather sensor hardware
- [ ] The printer hardware (your contribution is the software workflow, not the printer)
- [ ] The label material or adhesive

---

## 6. Phase 3 — Write the Specification

The specification is the full written description of the invention. For a provisional, there is no required format — but following a standard structure makes the eventual non-provisional conversion easier and signals professionalism if anyone (attorney, examiner, court) reviews it.

Write in plain technical English. Avoid marketing language. Avoid superlatives. Write as if explaining the invention to a mechanical engineer who is competent but unfamiliar with precision rifle shooting.

---

### 6.1 Title

One line. Descriptive but not limiting.

**Suggested title:** "System and Method for Wirelessly Printing Precision Rifle Ballistic Correction Data"

- [ ] Confirm title does not reference a specific brand, OS, or printer model

---

### 6.2 Background / Problem Statement

2–4 paragraphs. Describe the problem the invention solves. This section sets up why the invention is needed and implicitly distinguishes it from prior art.

**Cover these points:**

- [ ] Precision rifle shooters require scope correction data (elevation and windage adjustments) for accurate shots at varying distances, under varying environmental conditions, with specific ammunition
- [ ] This correction data is commonly called DOPE (Data On Previous Engagements) and is specific to a given rifle, optic, ammunition lot, and environmental context
- [ ] Existing ballistic computing applications (apps, dedicated hardware devices) produce correction data in digital display form only — no physical output is generated
- [ ] Shooters who want a physical reference must manually transcribe digital output to paper, cards, or notebooks — a time-consuming and error-prone process
- [ ] There is no existing product at any price point that automates the production of a physical printed scope correction reference directly from ballistic software output
- [ ] The need for a physical reference is significant in field and competition settings where the shooter cannot consult a screen mid-stage

---

### 6.3 Summary of the Invention

1–2 paragraphs. High-level description of the invention. Write the broadest accurate statement of what the invention is.

**Cover these points:**

- [ ] The invention provides a method and system for automatically generating a physical printed scope correction reference from a ballistic computing application via wireless communication with a portable label printer
- [ ] The method includes: computing ballistic corrections within the application; rendering the corrections into a formatted printable layout; transmitting the layout wirelessly to a label printer; and printing the layout as a physical label
- [ ] The system comprises: a mobile computing device executing a ballistic computing application; a wireless communication interface; and a portable label printer configured to receive and print the formatted layout

---

### 6.4 Brief Description of Drawings

One sentence per figure. Write this section after you have decided what figures to draw (see Phase 4), then come back and fill it in.

- [ ] Figure 1 — System overview diagram
- [ ] Figure 2 — Method flowchart
- [ ] Figure 3 — Example label output (one or more formats)
- [ ] Figure 4 — (optional) Alternate embodiment with environmental sensor in the workflow

---

### 6.5 Detailed Description

This is the most important section. It must describe the invention in enough detail that a person skilled in the field (a software engineer who knows mobile app development and Bluetooth) could understand and practice it. Cover every embodiment listed in §5.3.

Work through each sub-section below. Check each box when written.

#### System Overview

- [ ] Describe the computing device: a mobile device (smartphone, tablet, or similar) running an operating system supporting Bluetooth Low Energy and capable of executing a ballistic computing application
- [ ] Describe the ballistic computing application: software that accepts user inputs (ammunition data, zeroing conditions, environmental conditions) and computes elevation and windage scope corrections for one or more target distances
- [ ] Describe the wireless communication channel: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) as the primary embodiment; note that other short-range wireless protocols (WiFi, NFC) may be used in alternative embodiments
- [ ] Describe the label printer: a portable thermal label printer capable of receiving print data over a wireless interface; in the preferred embodiment a Bluetooth-connected direct-thermal label printer with a printhead width of 48mm at 203 DPI; note that other thermal label printers with different specifications may be used

#### Method Steps — Walk Through Each Step

- [ ] **Step 1 — Compute corrections:** The application accepts ammunition parameters (ballistic coefficient, muzzle velocity, bullet weight, muzzle velocity temperature sensitivity, zero distance, sight height) and environmental conditions (temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, altitude, wind speed, wind direction) and computes elevation and windage corrections at each of one or more user-specified distances
- [ ] **Step 2 — Format the layout:** The application renders the computed corrections into a formatted printable layout. The layout includes at minimum the elevation correction for each distance. The layout may additionally include: windage corrections; environmental conditions at time of computation; ammunition name and lot number; units of measurement (MRAD or MOA); date and time of session; and a machine-readable code (QR code, barcode) encoding a reference to the session data
- [ ] **Step 3 — Establish wireless connection:** The application establishes a wireless connection with a paired label printer using Bluetooth Low Energy. The connection uses the printer's BLE GATT service. Describe the GATT write-without-response characteristic pattern in general terms (do not name Niimbot specifically — describe as "the printer's wireless print data service and characteristic")
- [ ] **Step 4 — Transmit the layout:** The formatted layout is encoded as raster image data and transmitted in segments over the wireless connection to the printer in accordance with the printer's protocol
- [ ] **Step 5 — Print:** The printer receives the transmitted data and produces a physical label. In the preferred embodiment the label is a self-adhesive thermal label suitable for affixing to a rifle scope body, scope turret, rifle stock, or other surface accessible during a shooting stage
- [ ] **Step 6 — Apply:** The resulting physical label provides the shooter with a portable, at-a-glance reference for scope corrections without requiring the shooter to consult a digital device during a stage

#### Embodiments — Cover Each One

For each embodiment in §5.3, write 1–3 sentences describing how it fits into the system or method. These become dependent claims later.

- [ ] BLE embodiment: detailed description of BLE pairing, service UUID discovery, characteristic write procedure (generic, not Niimbot-specific)
- [ ] Thermal printer embodiment: direct-thermal print mechanism; no ink required; suitable for field use in varied temperature and humidity conditions
- [ ] Scope affixation embodiment: label sized to fit on a scope turret body or scope saddle; adhesive backing; weather-resistant laminate preferred
- [ ] MRAD and MOA embodiments: describe both unit systems; user selects preferred unit at session time
- [ ] Multi-distance embodiment: layout includes a table with one row per distance; distances selected by user
- [ ] Environmental data on label: temperature, pressure, humidity, altitude, and wind included in layout as conditions-of-record for the session
- [ ] Ammo lot number on label: lot number recorded at session creation and printed on label, allowing the shooter to verify the printed solution matches the ammunition in use
- [ ] QR code embodiment: a machine-readable QR code is generated encoding a session identifier or session data; printed on the label; allows a spotter or teammate to retrieve session details by scanning the label
- [ ] Automatic trigger embodiment: the application automatically initiates the print workflow upon session save or explicit user action; no separate export step required
- [ ] PNG export embodiment: the same formatted layout is additionally exportable as a portable network graphics (PNG) image file to the device's storage, for sharing or archiving without a connected printer
- [ ] iOS embodiment: the method and system operate on Apple iOS devices; the same formatted layout and wireless transmission method apply; the ballistic computing engine is shared between Android and iOS platforms via a multiplatform module
- [ ] Session portability embodiment: the session data including corrections, environmental conditions, and ammunition data is saved in a structured portable file format and may be transferred to other devices, reloaded, or archived; printing may be initiated from a previously saved session

#### Environmental Sensor Integration Embodiment

- [ ] Describe an embodiment where a third device (a portable weather sensor) is wirelessly connected to the computing device and provides live environmental data that feeds directly into the correction computation before printing; the printing workflow follows the same steps as the primary embodiment

---

### 6.6 Informal Claims (Optional but Recommended)

Informal claims in a provisional are not required and will not be examined. However, writing them forces you to articulate what you actually want to protect and helps the attorney who writes the non-provisional understand the scope you intended.

Write at least one independent method claim and one independent system claim. Write them broadly — a dependent claim can always be narrower, but an independent claim that is already narrow cannot be broadened.

**Independent method claim (draft):**

> A method comprising: computing, by a ballistic computing application executing on a mobile device, elevation corrections for a precision rifle at one or more distances; rendering the computed corrections as a formatted printable layout; transmitting the formatted layout wirelessly from the mobile device to a label printer; and printing the formatted layout as a physical label.

- [ ] Does this claim cover the core invention without requiring BLE? (It should — BLE is an embodiment)
- [ ] Does this claim cover the invention without requiring a specific printer brand? (It should)
- [ ] Does this claim cover the invention even if windage is not included? (It should — windage is an optional addition)
- [ ] Does this claim cover a tablet running the app? (It should — "mobile device" covers tablets)

**Independent system claim (draft):**

> A system comprising: a mobile device executing a ballistic computing application configured to compute elevation corrections for a precision rifle at one or more distances and to render the computed corrections as a formatted printable layout; a wireless communication interface operably coupled to the mobile device; and a label printer configured to receive the formatted printable layout from the mobile device via the wireless communication interface and to print the formatted layout as a physical label.

- [ ] Write 5–10 dependent method claims adding one limitation each: BLE specifically, thermal printer specifically, windage included, environmental data on label, ammo lot number on label, QR code, multi-distance table, automatic trigger, PNG export as alternate output
- [ ] Write 3–5 dependent system claims

---

## 7. Phase 4 — Drawings and Figures

Drawings are not required in a provisional but are strongly recommended. A drawing conveys in one image what takes a paragraph to describe. Figures also become part of the disclosure — if a drawing shows a label format that the specification does not fully describe in text, the drawing still discloses it.

**Required tools:** Any diagramming tool that exports to PDF. Google Slides, draw.io, OmniGraffle, Adobe Illustrator all work. Patent drawings do not need to be professionally drafted for a provisional.

**Required figures:**

- [ ] **Figure 1 — System diagram:** Three components left to right: [Mobile Device / Ballistic Computing Application] → (BLE) → [Label Printer] → [Physical Label Output]. Include an inset showing the label affixed to a rifle scope.

- [ ] **Figure 2 — Method flowchart:** Boxes with arrows in sequence:
  1. Input ammunition and environmental data
  2. Compute elevation and windage corrections
  3. Format corrections as printable layout
  4. Establish wireless connection with printer
  5. Transmit formatted layout to printer
  6. Printer produces physical label
  7. Label affixed to scope / carried by shooter

- [ ] **Figure 3 — Example label layout(s):** One or more sample label designs showing: distance rows, elevation correction per distance in MRAD (and/or MOA), ammo name, environmental conditions, lot number field, and QR code. Show at least two different label sizes/formats to demonstrate embodiment breadth.

- [ ] **Figure 4 — Environmental sensor embodiment:** Expanded system diagram adding a weather sensor: [Weather Sensor] → (BLE) → [Mobile Device / Ballistic Computing Application] → (BLE) → [Label Printer] → [Physical Label]

**Format requirements for USPTO:**

- [ ] Black and white (no color unless essential and specifically requested)
- [ ] Export to PDF
- [ ] Each figure on its own page or clearly labeled Fig. 1, Fig. 2, etc.
- [ ] Minimum 300 DPI if using raster images

---

## 8. Phase 5 — File at USPTO Patent Center

**URL:** patentcenter.uspto.gov

**Create an account if needed:**
- [ ] Go to patentcenter.uspto.gov
- [ ] Create a USPTO.gov account (uses login.gov)
- [ ] No attorney registration required for pro se filing

**Determine entity status (affects fee):**

Micro entity qualification (both conditions must be met):
1. Applicant has not been named as inventor on more than 4 previously filed patent applications
2. Applicant's gross income in the prior tax year did not exceed 3× the US median household income — the current threshold (effective September 9, 2025, per Census Bureau 2024 data) is **$251,190**; verify at fees.uspto.gov before filing as this figure is updated annually each September

- [ ] Confirm you qualify as micro entity (almost certain given pre-revenue status and no prior patents)
- [ ] If micro entity does not apply, small entity applies (fewer than 500 employees)

**Prepare documents (all as PDF):**

- [ ] Specification (description + informal claims if included) — one PDF
- [ ] Drawings — one PDF (all figures)
- [ ] Cover Sheet — USPTO Form SB/16 (Provisional Application for Patent Cover Sheet) — available at: uspto.gov/patent/forms/provisional-application-patent-cover-sheet-sb0016

**SB/16 fields to complete:**

- [ ] Inventor name(s): Jason M. Schwefel (plus any co-inventors if applicable)
- [ ] Title of invention: match your specification title exactly
- [ ] Correspondence address
- [ ] Applicant entity status: Micro Entity (if qualified)
- [ ] Do NOT check "Small Entity" if you qualify as Micro Entity — it costs more

**File:**

- [ ] Log in to Patent Center
- [ ] Select: File → Provisional Application
- [ ] Upload SB/16 cover sheet
- [ ] Upload specification PDF
- [ ] Upload drawings PDF
- [ ] Select entity status and pay filing fee online (credit card accepted)
- [ ] Receive filing receipt — **save this immediately**. It contains your Application Number and official filing date. Both are critical.

---

## 9. Phase 6 — After Filing

**Immediately after filing:**

- [ ] Save the official filing receipt to `03_-_Confidential/Legal_and_Trademarks/` — the application number and filing date are your priority date evidence
- [ ] Note the 12-month deadline in your calendar: **filing date + 365 days**. Set a reminder at 9 months (time to engage an attorney) and at 11 months (hard warning)
- [ ] You may now use "Patent Pending" in all materials: app store listing, website, marketing, labels, etc.

**Add to COLD_BORE_STARTUP_GUIDE.md §5 IP Asset Register:**

- [ ] Add a row: Printing workflow | Method + System patent | USPTO Provisional | Filed | [date] | [application number]

**Update SCOPEDOPE_VALUATION_BRIEF.md:**

- [ ] Update §3.2 IP Status: change "Patent: not filed; printing workflow is the strongest candidate" to reflect the filed provisional and filing date

---

## 10. Preparing for Non-Provisional Conversion

The provisional does nothing on its own after 12 months. You must file a non-provisional claiming priority to the provisional before the deadline.

**At ~9 months post-filing (or at ~5,000 installs, whichever comes first):**

- [ ] Engage a registered patent attorney with software/mobile technology experience
- [ ] Provide the attorney: the provisional filing receipt, the specification, the drawings, this guide, and the prior art search results
- [ ] Budget: $15,000–$30,000 for the non-provisional drafting, filing, and initial prosecution
- [ ] The attorney will write formal claims, refine the specification, and handle USPTO examination
- [ ] The provisional description is the floor — the attorney cannot claim what was not described. A thorough provisional makes their job easier and the resulting patent stronger.

**Decision point at conversion:**

The non-provisional is a significant cost. Before engaging an attorney, assess:
- Install base and revenue trajectory
- Whether a competitor has entered the label printing space
- Whether the patent's value to an acquirer justifies the expense
- See `SCOPEDOPE_VALUATION_BRIEF.md` §7 Question 6 for the standalone patent value question

---

## 11. Costs

| Item | Entity | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| USPTO provisional filing fee | Micro entity | ~$160 |
| USPTO provisional filing fee | Small entity | ~$320 |
| Form SB/16 | — | Free (download from USPTO) |
| Prior art search | — | $0 (self-conducted) |
| Drawing tools | — | $0 (draw.io is free) |
| **Total pro se provisional** | Micro entity | **~$160** |
| | | |
| Non-provisional (future, with attorney) | — | $15,000–$30,000 |
| Patent maintenance fees (if granted) | — | $800–$7,400 over 20 years |

**Note:** USPTO fee amounts change periodically. Verify current fees at fees.uspto.gov before filing.

---

## 12. Writing Principles for This Invention

These are the most important rules for drafting the specification. Review them before writing and again after a draft is complete.

### Write broad first, narrow second

Every limitation you include in an independent claim is a way for a competitor to design around the patent. Describe BLE as the preferred embodiment of "wireless communication" — not as a requirement. Describe Niimbot printers as the preferred embodiment of "a label printer" — not as a requirement.

If a competitor ships a ballistic app that prints scope correction labels via WiFi to a Brother label printer, your patent should cover that. Write it so it does.

### Describe every embodiment you can think of

If it is described in the specification, it can be claimed in the non-provisional (or in a continuation). If it is not described, it cannot. The cost of including an embodiment is one paragraph. The cost of not including one may be an entire class of infringing products you cannot reach.

### Avoid limiting language

- "must" → "in one embodiment"
- "always" → "typically" or omit
- "only works with" → "in the preferred embodiment, operates with"
- "requires" → "in one embodiment, uses"
- "ScopeDOPE" → "a ballistic computing application" or "the application"
- "Niimbot" → "a thermal label printer" or "the printer"
- "Android" → "a mobile operating system" (mention Android and iOS as embodiments)
- "BLE" → "a wireless communication interface" (mention BLE as the preferred embodiment)

### Don't describe the DOPE-Blend methodology

The DOPE-Blend methodology is a trade secret and a separate potential IP asset. The printing workflow patent does not need to describe how corrections are computed — only that corrections are computed and then printed. Keep the methodology out of this document entirely.

### The independent claim test

After drafting any independent claim, ask: "If I remove any single element from this claim, does the resulting description still cover something novel and non-obvious?" If yes, the claim may be too broad. If no, you have found the minimum set of elements and the claim is appropriately tight.

### Have your partner review for these specific failure modes

- [ ] Any sentence that names a brand, product, or platform as a requirement (not an embodiment)
- [ ] Any method step that could be split into a narrower preceding step (potential intervening claim space)
- [ ] Any place where "the application" means something ambiguous — be specific about whether "the application" is the software, the installation, or the process
- [ ] Any place where the description of the label is limited to a single format or size
- [ ] Any place where the description implies the printer must be Bluetooth-only rather than any wireless interface

---

*This guide does not constitute legal advice. A registered patent attorney should review the specification before filing the non-provisional and may recommend changes to the provisional's description at that time. The 12-month conversion deadline is absolute — missing it permanently extinguishes the priority date.*

---

## Document Control

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| **Document owner** | `jschwefel@coldboreballisticsllc.com` |
| **Classification** | Confidential (03_-_Confidential/) |
| **Location** | `OneDrive/CBB_Corporate/03_-_Confidential/Legal_and_Trademarks/PROVISIONAL_PATENT_GUIDE.md` |
| **Cross-references** | `COPYRIGHT_REGISTRATION_PREP.md`; `USPTO_TRADEMARK_PREP.md`; `COLD_BORE_STARTUP_GUIDE.md` |
| **Created** | 2026-06-01 |
| **Last updated** | 2026-06-09 |
| **Next full review due** | 2027-06-01 |

---

## Revision Control Block

| Rev | Date | Changed By | Reviewed By | Approved By | Summary |
|-----|------|------------|-------------|-------------|---------|
| 0.9 | 2026-06-01 | jschwefel | — | — | Initial release |
| DRAFT | 2026-06-09 | Claude (Opus 4.8) | — | — | Fixed "DOPE-blend"→"DOPE-Blend™" and corrected the banned "DOPE-blend engine" section heading → "DOPE-Blend methodology" per BRAND_LEGAL_LANGUAGE_GUIDE (the section's intent — keep the methodology out of the printing-workflow patent — preserved); applied ™ to first use of ScopeDOPE/Cold Bore Ballistics. |
