# How to Clone the patent-disclosure-skill Repository for Claude Code

> Learn to clone the patent-disclosure-skill repository for Claude Code by creating a directory and executing a Git command. Ensure CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR is set correctly for seamless integration.

- Repository: [handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-09-01

---

**To clone the patent-disclosure-skill repository for Claude Code, create a `.claude/skills/` directory in your project root and execute `git clone https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill.git .claude/skills/patent-disclosure-skill`, then verify the `CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR` environment variable resolves to the skill's absolute path.**

The **patent-disclosure-skill** is an Agent Skill designed specifically for Claude Code that automates patent document analysis, PDF extraction, and disclosure workflows. According to the handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill source code, Claude Code expects skills to reside within a `.claude/skills/` hierarchy and relies on the `CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR` environment variable to resolve resource paths to prompts and tools. This guide provides the exact commands and file structure requirements needed to install the skill correctly.

## Prerequisites

Before cloning the repository, ensure you have the following:

- Git installed on your local machine
- Claude Code with Agent Skill support enabled
- A project directory where you want the skill available

## Step-by-Step Clone Procedure

### Create the Skills Directory

Claude Code discovers skills under the `.claude/skills/` path. Create this directory if it does not already exist:

```bash
mkdir -p .claude/skills

```

### Clone the Repository

Execute the clone command to download the repository directly into the Claude Code skill path. The target directory name must exactly match the skill name defined in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md):

```bash
git clone https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill.git \
    .claude/skills/patent-disclosure-skill

```

This command downloads the complete repository tree including [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) (skill metadata), the `prompts/` directory containing chat prompts such as [`patent_plain_reader.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/patent_plain_reader.md), the `tools/` directory with Python utilities for patent reading and CAD handling, and the `assets/` folder with Obsidian templates.

### Verify the Installation

Start a Claude Code session and confirm the environment variable points to the correct path:

```bash
echo $CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR

```

The output should display the absolute path ending in `.../.claude/skills/patent-disclosure-skill`. When correctly configured, Claude Code resolves references like `${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/prompts/reader/patent_plain_reader.md` defined in the skill configuration.

## Alternative Installation Methods

### Copy from Existing Local Clone

If you have already cloned the repository elsewhere, copy the entire folder into the skills directory:

```bash
cp -r /path/to/patent-disclosure-skill .claude/skills/

```

Ensure the folder name remains exactly `patent-disclosure-skill` to match the `name:` field specified in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md).

## Understanding the Repository Structure

After cloning, your `.claude/skills/patent-disclosure-skill/` directory contains these critical components:

- **[`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md)** — Core metadata file defining the skill name, description, and entry points for Claude Code
- **[`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/INSTALL.md)** — Official installation guide covering Claude Code, Cursor, and other AI assistants
- **`prompts/`** — Chat prompts used by the skill, including the reader workflow configurations
- **`tools/patent_reader/`** — Python utilities implementing the extract → analyze → vault tool chain
- **`assets/`** — Obsidian templates and CSS for optional vault integration
- **`docs/`** — User guides including [`obsidian-setup-guide.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/obsidian-setup-guide.md) and example screenshots

The presence of [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) in the repository root is mandatory; without it, Claude Code cannot recognize the directory as a valid Agent Skill.

## Troubleshooting Common Issues

If Claude Code cannot locate the skill after cloning:

1. **Check the directory name** — The folder must be named exactly `patent-disclosure-skill`, not `patent-disclosure-skill-main` or any variant with branch suffixes
2. **Verify the path depth** — Ensure the skill resides directly under `.claude/skills/` and not nested in additional subdirectories like `.claude/skills/dev/patent-disclosure-skill/`
3. **Confirm SKILL.md exists** — Run `ls .claude/skills/patent-disclosure-skill/SKILL.md` to verify the metadata file is present and readable

## Summary

- Clone the repository into `.claude/skills/patent-disclosure-skill` to ensure Claude Code automatically discovers the skill via the standard hierarchy
- The [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) file in the repository root defines skill metadata and must not be renamed or removed
- Verify installation by checking that `CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR` resolves to the skill's absolute path inside your project
- The repository includes `prompts/`, `tools/patent_reader/`, and `assets/` directories that support automated patent document analysis and Obsidian vault integration
- Alternative installation involves copying an existing local clone while preserving the exact directory name required by the skill configuration

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the patent-disclosure-skill?

The patent-disclosure-skill is an Agent Skill for Claude Code that automates the extraction, analysis, and organization of patent documents. According to the handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill repository, it includes specialized tools for PDF extraction, CAD file handling, and Office Action (OA) support, utilizing prompts stored in [`prompts/reader/patent_plain_reader.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/prompts/reader/patent_plain_reader.md) to process patent text.

### Why must the repository be in .claude/skills/?

Claude Code follows a specific convention where Agent Skills must reside within a `.claude/skills/` hierarchy. The runtime automatically sets the `CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR` environment variable to point to this location, allowing the skill to resolve relative paths to prompts in the `prompts/` folder and tools in the `tools/` directory as defined in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md).

### How do I update the skill after cloning?

Navigate to the skill directory and pull the latest changes from the main branch:

```bash
cd .claude/skills/patent-disclosure-skill
git pull origin main

```

Restart your Claude Code session to reload any modifications to [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md), prompts, or tool configurations.

### Can I install the skill globally instead of per-project?

Yes. While Claude Code primarily looks for skills in the current project's `.claude/skills/` directory, you can place skills in your home directory under `~/.claude/skills/` for global access across all projects. The `CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR` resolution mechanism functions identically regardless of whether the skill is installed locally in a project or globally in your home directory.