Patent 7-Step Search Strategy
Conducting a Patent Search on
the United States Patent and Trademark Office Website
The 7-Step Strategy
Go to:
http:///www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/ptdl/step7.htm
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1. Initial ClasslSubclass
Search. Index to the U.S. Patent Classification.
2. Identify Subclass (es).
Manual
of Classification.
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Locate class and subclass numbers in
the Manual of
Classification (http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/).
Note where the terms fall within the US Patent Classification System. Scan
the entire class schedule, paying attention to the dot indent. Revise search
strategy as needed.
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Click on class D22 and arrow down to
subclass 126. Check to see if there is other classifications in the same
area that are also appropriate. Note where the term falls within the system.
Scan the entire class schedule, paying attention to the dot indents. Revise
search strategy as needed. Class D22 is called Arms, Pyrotechnics, Hunting
and Fishing Equipment. Most patents have more than one class and subclass.
3. Classification Definitions
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Read the definitions to establish the
scope of class(es) and subclass(es) relevant to the search. The definitions
include important search notes and suggestions for further searching.
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From the Manual
of Classification, click on “Class
Definitions” (http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/selectnumwithtitle.htm)
at top right hand side of page. Then click on the Class.
Clicking on the Title of the class will show you the definition of that
class and clicking on the subclass will show you the definition of the
subclass. Definitions will soon be added to design classes.
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When possible definitions should be
read to establish the scope of class (es) and subclass (es) relevant to
the search. The definitions include important search notes and suggestions
for further search options such as “see references”.
4. Initial Search. Browse Patent
Titles and Abstracts.
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Check if you are on the right path;
retrieve and browse through titles of patents and published applications
in the given class and subclass. Or redirect the search: retrieve lists
of patents and published applications containing applicable keywords; note
their class and subclass numbers and go back to Step 2. Remember that Patents
BIB includes bibliographic information for patents from 1969 to present
and published patent applications from 2001 to the present. WEST includes
the full-text of patents from 1971 to the present. USPTO databases on the
Web include the full-text of patents from 1976 and images (searchable only
by class or number) from 1790 to the current week, plus published applications
from 2001 to present.
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Check if you are on the right path
by clicking on the red “P” to the left of the subclass. All patents in
the class and subclass are displayed.
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Retrieve results and examine patent
titles.
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Search published patent applications
in class and subclass by clicking on “Quick Search”, under “Patent Applications”.
In the “term 1” box enter the selected class and subclass. For example
enter D22/126. In the “Field 1” box click on the arrow and choose “Current
US Class” In the “Select Years” box click on the arrow and choose “all
years.”
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Try other relevant classes/subclasses.
5. Patent Class. Retrieve
Subclass Listing.
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Once you have identified the relevant
classes and subclasses, obtain a list of all patent numbers granted from
1790 to the present and all published applications from 2001 to the present
for every class and subclass to be searched.
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To obtain patent list of titles go
back to “Quick Search”
and enter class and subclass as above or get list by going to the Manual
of Classification.
6. Examine Title List.
Official Gazette - Patent Section
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Go to the Gazette and look for exemplary
claim(s) and a representative drawing for all patents on the list(s) to
eliminate patents unrelated to the invention. For published applications,
view the complete document on-line.
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Examine title list and click on title
to display a summary of the patent, which includes claims, cited references,
and US, classification numbers.
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Look up any other classification numbers
assigned to each patent in Index to U.S. Patent Classification to determine
relevancy.
7. View Complete Patent
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Search the complete text and drawing(s)
of closely related patents to determine how different they are from the
invention. (Years of coverage vary with format).
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For those patents from the titles list
that seem close to your invention, after viewing the summary of the patent
click on blue “images” box on top of page. This will display complete patent
including drawings.
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