PATENT SEARCH TOOLS AND THE 8-STEP STRATEGY

Charlotte A. ErdmannSiegesmund Engineering Library

Purdue University

Fall 2005

2

Objectives

Use a sample search of a mouse trap set by gravity

Look at search tools Look at databasesLook at search techniques

3

Review Basic Parts of a Patent

Title Inventor Filing date U.S. class Field of search Abstract Background Detailed Description

Patent number Issue date Application number International class Reference cited Drawings Summary Claims

4

Classification Basics

Examiners assign classification to each patent based on its claims.

More than one class/subclass combination may be given.

Classification may change between the time that a patent issued and today.

Classification involves a first place rule.

5

More information on classification

Examiners’ Handbook to the U.S. Patent Classification System

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/dapp/sir/co/examhbk/index.html

V. Selection of Locus for Searching or Placement

6

STEP 1: INDEX TO U.S. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

Begin with this alphabetical listing of technical and common terms.

Example: mouse trap set by gravityLook for terms describing the

invention and its function, effect, end-product, structure, and use.

[Paper (SuDocs C 21.12/2:) or on Cassis Patent ASSIST CD-ROM]

7

Sample Search

The user chooses these terms: Mouse Mice Animal Traps

Note specific classes and subclasses.

For example: 84/233Plus sign adjacent to a subclass refers to

indented subclasses, e.g. 43/58+

8

Look for index term: mouse

MOUSE COMPUTER INPUT & DISPLAY CONTROL 345/156+ DEVICES ............... 345/156+ GUARD

PIANO PEDAL OPENINGs... 84/233 MULTICELLULAR LIVING ORGANISMS ... 800/

The first number is called a class. The second number is called a subclass.

TRAP 43/58+

9

STEP 2: MANUAL OF CLASSIFICATION

• Contains more than 400 classes and 140,000 subclasses.

• Contains search helps at beginning of MOC.

• Arranged by classes in this order:Plant UtilityDesign

10

Manual of Classification Locate class and subclass in the Manual. For example:

Scan the entire class schedule, paying attention to the dot indents.

Revise your search strategy as needed.

58 TRAPS59 .Burglar60 .Imprisoning61 ..Swinging or sliding closure62 ..Falling encaging member

43/58+

[Paper (SuDoc C 21.12:) or on Cassis Patents ASSIST CD-ROM]

11

Look at Class 43 Look for main lines (capitalized headings):

MISCELLANEOUSDECOYSFISHINGTRAPSVERMIN DESTROYING

Look at end of class:

Cross Reference Art Collections 43/900 LIQUID INSECTICIDE SPRAYER

Digests 424/Digest 1 AEROSOL HAIR PREPARATION

12

Class Number: 43Class Title: FISHING, TRAPPING, AND VERMIN DESTROYING58 TRAPS59 .Burglar60 .Imprisoning61 ..Swinging or sliding closure62 ..Falling encaging member63 ..Jaw cage type64 .Self and ever set65 ..Nonreturn entrance66 ...Victim-opened67 ...Victim-closed68 ..Sinking compartment

13

Class Number: 43

58 TRAPS64 .Self and ever set69 ..Tiltable platform70 ...Trigger-released71 ..Rotatable platform72 ...Trigger-released73 .Self-reset74 ..Rotating door or platform75 ..Smiting76 .Victim-reset

..AND MORE

14

59 .Burglar60 .Imprisoning61 ..Swinging or sliding closure62 ..Falling encaging member63 ..Jaw cage type64 .Self and ever set65 ..Nonreturn entrance66 ...Victim-opened67 ...Victim-closed68 ..Sinking compartment

58 TRAPS

Class Number: 43

Look for traps that are self-set by gravity

15

STEP 3: CLASSIFICATION DEFINITIONS

Read the definitions to establish the scope of the classes and subclasses relevant to the search.

Definitions include notes and suggestions to search other classes and subclasses.

If you’re doing a “real” patent search, you must consult the Classification Definitions!

[Microfiche (SuDocs C 21.3/2:), Cassis Patents ASSIST DVD, or Tools to Help in Searching by Patent Classification (web)]

16

Definitions exist for utility and plant patents with some exceptions.

DO DON’T

343/700 343/700R

Cross Reference Art Collections Digests

Definitions do not exist for all design patents.

Definition Notes

17

58 TRAPS64 .Self and ever set65 ..Nonreturn entrance66 ...Victim-opened67 ...Victim-closed68 ..Sinking compartment69 ..Tiltable platform70 ...Trigger-released71 ..Rotatable platform72 ...Trigger-released

Read Definitions (Examples)

Class 43 43/65

43/58 43/66

43/64

Choose Definitions to Read from Class 43

18

43/ 64 Self and ever set

This subclass is indented under subclass 58.  Traps, which because of their peculiar construction are not set manually, but reset themselves under the influence of gravity.

(1) Note. Includes also those traps which catch any number of animals up to the capacity of the trap and by reason of their peculiar construction need no setting. These traps unlike imprisoning traps, may capture more than one animal and frequently injure or even kill the animal.

19

Definition: 43/66

Victim-opened. This subclass is indented under subclass 65. Traps whose entrance is normally closed, as by a gravity door or gate, which is opened by the animal"s effort to get in the trap and which closes behind him, thus capturing him.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

69, for tiltable platform self-set traps. 71 and 74, for rotatable platform self and self-reset traps.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

232, Deposit and Collection Receptacles, subclasses 47+ for letter box traps and 55+ for coin traps.

20

USPTO website: http://www.uspto.gov

21

USPTO Patent Databases

22

STEP 4: PATENTS BIB (DVD)

OR PATENTS GRANT (WEB)

Search class/subclass

Patents BIB (DVD, 1969-date) or

Patent Grants (web, 1790-present)

Retrieve results and examine titles. Check if you are on the right path

23

Patents Bib/Patent Grants (continued)

Try other classes/subclasses

Revise search using keywords.

Note classes/subclasses and Return to STEP 2

24

PATENTS BIB ON DVD

25

BIB LIST OF PATENTS FROM 43/66

36 records were found

26

USPTO website: http://www.uspto.gov

27

USPTO Patent Databases

28

Full Text/Keyword (1976-date)Image/Class (1790-date)

29

217 Patents Found

30

Text, Image, Referenced By

31

T = Full-Text and Image

=Image Only

32

Problems Viewing Images

33

Keyword Searching (1976-date)

(mouse or mice) and trap$ and gravity

(mouse or mice) and trap$ and gravity and CCL/43/$

AN/woodstream and ccl/43/$

34

Keyword Search (1976-date)

35

STEP 5: PATENT APPLICATION

36

Applications published 18 months after filing

Decision to publish or not to publish is made at time of application

Publication is required if also filed outside U.S.

Publication is optional if filed only in U.S. Search may need to go broader, e.g. 43/$

or 43/58 or try a variety of subclasses

37

Quick Search

38

Results

39

Advanced Search

43/66 yield no results

40

Results

41

STEP 6: PATENTS CLASS

OPTIONAL

• Once relevant classes/subclasses are identified, obtain a list of all patent numbers (1790 to present) granted for each class and subclass to be listed.

Note: You may search the PTO Patents Full-Text File to get the same information

42

LIST OF PATENTS FROM 43/66

216 records were foundClassification: 43/66 ORs: 152 XRs: 62 Total: 216

5682705 O 5611171 O 5564221 X 5502918 X 5410837 O 5386663 O 5347747 O 5341592 O 5325622 O 5299380 O 4998376 X 4887381 O 4831766 X 4829704 O 4782620 X 4779373 O 4757638 O 4356087 X 4266362 O 4251944 O 4214399 O 4091560 O 3991508 O 3984936 O 3940876 X 3925922 O 3786591 O 3681869 O 3678612 O 3672090 O 3557484 O 3541722 O 3541721 O 3393468 O 3197916 O 3122856 O 2995861 O 2950562 X 2842891 O 2787082 O 2741063 O 2693050 O 2601622 O 2576524 X 2573759 X 2567599 O 2562663 O 2553157 O 2470177 O 2377967 O 2316888 O 2315345 O 2263650 O 2255955 X 2231191 O 2217136 X 2193937 X 2178789 O 1982389 O 1955496 O 1943177 O 1911919 O 1868847 O 1860599 O 1818315 O 1816269 O 1794958 O 1788047 O 1782661 O 1773324 X 1765941 O 1759770 X 1753082 X 1744412 O 1739493 X 1738623 X 1726909 O 1702329 O 1642194 O 1619366 O 1618513 O 1613652 O 1606650 O 1597236 X 1571130 X 1546429 O 1541781 O 1505996 O 1505932 X 1497883 O 1488503 O

43

STEP 7: OFFICIAL GAZETTE - PATENTS Go to the Official Gazette (OG) and look for

exemplary claim(s) and a representative drawing for all patents on the list(s) to eliminate patents unrelated to the invention.

The Gazette is published every Tuesday.

Granted patents are arranged in number order and include:

Re-Examinations

Reissues

Plant Patents

Utility Patents

Design Patents

Note:Optional

44

STEP 8: COMPLETE PATENT DOCUMENT

Find the full-patent document by patent number.

Before 1/01 On or After 1/01

Plant PP985 US PP 12,345 P2

Utility 4,503,035 US 6,654,321 B1

Design D332,612 US D654,321 S

Reissue RE35,179 US RE12,345 E

Re-Exam B1 4,503,035 US 6,654,321 C

Application (1st publication) US 2001/0001111 A1

Search the complete text and drawings of closely related patents to determine how different they are from your invention.

45

AVAILABLE PATENTS AT PURDUE

Access on web 1790-date

http://www.uspto.gov/

Purdue has:

• DVD 1790-date

• Microfilm 1950-1999

• Paper Aerospace Class 244

(through 1979)