Patent 7-Step Search Strategy
Conducting a Patent Search on
the United States Patent and Trademark Office Website
The 7-Step Strategy
http:///www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/ptdl/step7.htm
1. Initial ClasslSubclass
Search. Index to the U.S. Patent Classification.
2. Identify Subclass (es).
Manual
of Classification.
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Retrieve results and examine patent titles.
-
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.”
-
Try other relevant classes/subclasses.
5. Patent Class. Retrieve
Subclass Listing.
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
Examine title list and click on title to display
a summary of the patent, which includes claims, cited references, and US,
classification numbers.
-
Look up any other classification numbers assigned
to each patent in Index to U.S. Patent Classification to determine relevancy.
7. View Complete Patent
-
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).
-
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.
JTobin04/USPTO
Computer Based Training
Retrieve Full Images
Patent and Trademark Websites
Help and Contact Information
USPTO's
"Need Help" is at http://www.uspto.gov/web/menu/feedback.html