Steps to Successful Preliminary Patent Searching

Karen M. KitchensKaren.kitchens@wyo.gov

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. Kitchenskaren.kitchens@wyo.gov

307-777-7281Patent and Trademark Resource Center

Wyoming State Library