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Steps to Successful Preliminary Patent Searching
Karen M. [email protected]
307-777-7281Patent and Trademark
Resource CenterWyoming State Library
Thorough Searching is CriticalCritical
Search Benefits for Inventors
Better prepared to discuss ideas confidentially.
Avoid infringement.
Track research and development.
Access to wealth of information.
Types of PatentsUtility - 20 years from filing date
Design - 14 years from date granted
Plant - 20 years from filing date
Criteria of Patentability
What Is Prior Art?
Art = Technology
35 USC § 102 - Conditions for Patentability; Novelty and Loss of Right to Patent
All information that has been disclosed to the public in any form about an invention before a given date.
Examples of Prior Art
AIA & Prior Art
America Invents Act (AIA)
Non-Obvious
Sufficiently different from what has been used or described prior.
Non-obvious to person having ordinary skill in area of technology.
Patent N0.: US 8,569,980 B2Oct. 29, 2013
Where to begin?
Pitfalls of Keyword Searching
Titles and abstracts often vagueSlinky = “Toy and Process of Use”iPod = “Media Device”
Terminology changes
British spellings and terminology (e.g. tyre, aluminium, petrol, defence)
Keyword searchable from 1976 (USPTO website)
All patents prior art
7 Step Strategy
7 Step Strategy
Click HereClick Here
7 Step Strategy
Click HereClick Here
Step 1: Brainstorm
Step 1Step 1
Step 1: Brainstorm
Purpose? Utilitarian or ornamental?Process or product?What is the invention made of?How is it used?Keywords and technical terms that describe?
Vehicle Automobile Internal Combustion Engine Fuel Injection
Step 2: Determine Initial Classification
Click HereClick Here
Step 2: Determine Initial Classification
Go to "M" for Mousetrap
Go to "M" for Mousetrap
Step 3: Verify Relevancy Manual of Classification
Link to Class Schedule
Link to Class Schedule
Mouse trap: Class 43 Fishing,
Trapping, and Vermin Destroying/
Subclass 58+ Traps
Mouse trap: Class 43 Fishing,
Trapping, and Vermin Destroying/
Subclass 58+ Traps
Step 3: Verify Relevancy
Dots – indicate a level of indentation between subclasses.
Subclass Numbers link to subclass definitions file.
Class TitleClass Number – Links to Class and Subclass definitions file.
Step 4: Read Classification Definitionstions
Subclass 58 TrapsSubclass 58 Traps
Step 5: Review Published Applications and Patents in Selected Subclasses
Manual of Classification
icon links to search of Pre Grant Publication Applications
icon links to search of Granted Patent Applications
Step 5: Review Published Applications and Patents in Selected Subclasses
Click here to view Granted Patent
Abstract
Click here to view Granted Patent
Abstract
Step 5: Review Published Applications and Patents in Selected Subclasses
Click here to view Patent
Image
Click here to view Patent
Image
Step 6: Find Relevant CPCs
43 58
Step 6: Find Relevant CPCs
Step 6: Find Relevant CPCs
Step 7: Conduct CPC Class Scheme Search
Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC)
Designated by USPTO.Disseminate patent and trademark
information.Support the IP needs of the public.Over 79 PTRCs throughout the U.S.
Unique Offerings at PTRC
Reference Materials and Tools◦ USPTO manuals, guides and handbooks.
◦ USPTO directories and general publications.
◦ Non-USPTO publications.
One-on-One TrainingPubWESTPubEAST
Comparison of Features:
PubWEST vs. PubEAST Pub WEST PubEAST
Freeform or Structured Search Structured Search Only
Faster Searching than Online Faster Searching than Online
More EPO and JPO Abstracts EPO and JPO Abstracts
STIC Foreign Patents Some STIC Foreign Patents via FPRS
Difficult to Tag Documents Easy Tagging of Documents & Placement in Separate Folders
Unable to Make Pagemarks. Create Pagemarks on Patent Pages
Updated for Finding Relevant CPC Classifications
Both PubWEST and PubEAST provide relevancy ranking to search results for: Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) U.S. Patent Classification International Patent Classification (IPC)
Bottom line: You waste less time looking at patents loosely related to your search.
How Do PubWEST & PubEAST Differ from PatFT and AppFT on USPTO Website?
…Faster
…Faster, More Precise Searching with Proximity Operators
NOTAND
OR
…Faster Searching with Optional Key Word in Context View
Text display choice can be “KWIC” Key Word in Context –
Displays only paragraph(s) containing search term(s).Not possible on USPTO PatFT and AppFT.
…Faster Searching with Set Numbers
Searches are saved in set numbers, easily combined.Not possible on USPTO web’s PatFT and AppFT .
...Faster Searching with Multiple Database Search
…Faster Viewing
Time saver: move from front page image to front page image in a list of patents with one click
More…Patents: Foreign Patents Access
EPO Abstracts JPO Abstracts Foreign Document
Images Retrieval (PubWEST)
More…Display and Download Options
Side by Side Display : Clicking on the publication numbers on the left, “flip” through the front pages..
Downloaded Results in a Spreadsheet The selected records will download to a spreadsheet in a .csv file, if you have spreadsheet software on your PC.
Summary
PubWEST and PubEAST are portals to patent databases from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Powerful, time-saving features. Features only available at no charge at the
USPTO Public Search Facility and PTRCs. Try out PubWEST or PubEAST for your
searching needs.
Questions?
Karen M. [email protected]
307-777-7281Patent and Trademark Resource Center
Wyoming State Library