What indicates that a claim is dependent in a patent application?

A claim is considered dependent in a patent application when it specifically relies on another claim for its definition. This means that the dependent claim typically adds additional limitations or specifies features that build upon the base claim, which is often referred to as an "independent claim." The structure of dependent claims allows for more detailed expressions of the invention, facilitating the examination process by establishing clearer distinctions between claims.

The other options do not fit the definition of a dependent claim. For instance, referring to all inventions or lacking limitations would suggest a more generic stance often aligned with independent claims, which can stand alone without needing to refer to another claim. Additionally, a claim that must stand alone, by its nature, would be independent, as dependent claims cannot exist without the context provided by their parent claims. Thus, the distinguishing feature of a dependent claim is that it specifically incorporates and builds upon the content of another claim within the patent application.