Multiple Dependent Claims

Multiple dependent claims are claims that refer to parent claims in the alternative. Thus, a claim that recites "The method of any of claims 1-5…" is a multiple dependent claim.

Multiple dependent claims are allowed in U.S. practice, but they are not recommended. For one thing, the Patent Office charges extra just to have multiple dependent claims, and then each of the dependencies counts as another claim for cost calculations. In the example above, the multiple dependent claim (perhaps claim 6) would be counted as five different claims for cost purposes.

It should also be obvious to the reader that multiple dependent claims can themselves have dependencies. Thus, claim 6 may depend upon any of claims 1-5, and then claims 7-10 might depend upon claim 6. In that case each of claims 7-10 would also be counted as five claims for cost purposes.

In U.S. practice it is improper to use multiple, multiple dependent claims; i.e., multiple dependent claims that are themselves children of a multiple dependent claim. Thus, if claim 10 recites "The widget of any of claims 1, 6, or 9, comprising…" claim 11 might properly recite "The widget of any of claims 1, 2, or 3, comprising…." But it would be improper for claim 11 to recite "The widget of any of claims 1, 6, or 10, comprising…" because claim 10 is itself multiply dependent.