Difference between "Plurality" and "Multiple"

[Polaris]

What is the name of your state?CA

How does the patent office define "Plurality" and "Multiple"?

How does the patent office differentiate the two terms?

Thanks

 

[divgradcurl]

What is the name of your state?CA

How does the patent office define "Plurality" and "Multiple"?

How does the patent office differentiate the two terms?

Thanks

There really isn't a difference between the two. Both mean essentially "two or more." Most of the time you see "plurality" in claims, but I'm not aware of any substantive difference between the two terms. If you are writing your own patent, pick one or the other and stick with it.