Hmmm... "Teachings" seems to mean more than one thing, depending on context... When referring to "prior art", it means "what is already known" (eg through general knowledge of that subject, or through previously granted patents in that subject area), and δείγματα is probably right.

But, when used in a patent application it sometimes seems to refer to "what is not yet known" or "what we are claiming to be new". In the 2nd meaning, I've seen some sites equating it with "technical contribution" ie τεχνική συνεισφορά. «Tεχνική συνεισφορά» is then sometimes back-referenced to the preceding patents which made up the "prior art".

Natalia, if your deadline isn't urgent, can you let me know if (in this context) "teachings" refers to the device being patented, or to devices that are being quoted in the application? If you can wait a day or so, I'll contact my sister (who worked for the European Patent Office in the Hague for 10 years or so) and I'll ask her what the synonyms of "teachings" would be, in the correct context.


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Note added at 7 hrs (2010-03-09 18:43:22 GMT)
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I should add that my sister was a Patent Examiner: knowing European Patent Law and applying the rules was her job. She can't speak Greek, but she could explain the term in English, French, German and Dutch!!!