Patent Searching
- Purpose and Instructions
- Introduction
- Brainstorming
- Index Search
- Classification Codes
- Classification Definitions
- Patent Review
- Keyword Searching
- Conclusion
Patent Review
Examine individual patents to determine the originality of
your invention.
- Click on the red P icon to the left of the blue subclass
number 163. This will bring up a list of all the U.S. Patents in that particular
classification code, in this case more than 1,300 patents. (You can also click
on the A icon to bring up a list of published applications in a particular
class.) All years have been searched, and the list displays the most recent
patents first.
- Get a preliminary feel for the group by browsing the titles
that look like they might describe your invention. Keep in mind that the
titles are often short and not overly descriptive. Looking at the patent
as a whole
is the only way to really decide whether or not the invention is similar
to your own. If you conclude that this is indeed the correct classification
code, you must examine all the patents to determine if your invention is original.
- To view the patent, click on the patent number. If the patent
was issued after 1976 you may view the full text, without images.
- If you want to see the full image of any patent from 1790 to the present,
which includes drawings, you will need a specialized
TIFF viewer. Click on the "Help" button at the top of the search
results page and then click on the topic "How to Access Patent Full-page
Images"
to get complete instructions on downloading the free software.
Please Note: There are other options for viewing patents once you know what you are looking for. Click here are a few of those options (under the heading Quick Links).
- Be sure to look at the drawings and claims sections of individual patents.
These are two quick ways to determine the originality of your invention.
- Also, make note of the references cited. Listed are other patents
that were thought to be closely related to the patented item.
- Do this for each class/subclass combination that relates to the invention.
8. Keyword Searching ------->
