PATENT SEARCH TOOLS AND THE 8STEP STRATEGY

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PATENT SEARCH TOOLS AND THE 8-STEP STRATEGY

• Charlotte A. Erdmann
• Siegesmund 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 databases
• Look 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.

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More information on classification

• Examiners Handbook to the U.S. Patent
  Classification System
• http//www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/dapp/sir/co/e
  xamhbk/index.html
• V. Selection of Locus for Searching or Placement

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STEP 1 INDEX TO U.S. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

• Begin with this alphabetical listing of technical
  and common terms.
• Example mouse trap set by gravity
• Look 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
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Sample Search

• The user chooses these terms
• Mouse
• Mice
• Animal
• Traps
• Note specific classes and subclasses.
• For example 84/233
• Plus sign adjacent to a subclass refers to
  indented subclasses, e.g. 43/58

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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
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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
• Utility
• Design

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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.

43/58
58 TRAPS 59 .Burglar 60 .Imprisoning 61 ..Swinging
or sliding closure 62 ..Falling encaging member
Paper (SuDoc C 21.12) or on Cassis Patents
ASSIST CD-ROM
11
Look at Class 43

• Look for main lines (capitalized headings)
• MISCELLANEOUS
• DECOYS
• FISHING
• TRAPS
• VERMIN DESTROYING
• Look at end of class
• Cross Reference Art Collections
  43/900 LIQUID INSECTICIDE SPRAYER
• Digests
• 424/Digest 1 AEROSOL HAIR PREPARATION

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Class Number 43 Class Title FISHING,
TRAPPING, AND VERMIN DESTROYING 58 TRAPS 59
.Burglar 60 .Imprisoning 61 ..Swinging or sliding
closure 62 ..Falling encaging member 63 ..Jaw
cage type 64 .Self and ever set 65 ..Nonreturn
entrance 66 ...Victim-opened 67 ...Victim-closed 6
8 ..Sinking compartment
13
Class Number 43 58 TRAPS 64 .Self and ever
set 69 ..Tiltable platform 70 ...Trigger-released
71 ..Rotatable platform 72 ...Trigger-released 73
.Self-reset 74 ..Rotating door or
platform 75 ..Smiting 76 .Victim-reset ..AND
MORE
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Look for traps that are self-set by gravity

• 59 .Burglar
• 60 .Imprisoning
• 61 ..Swinging or sliding closure
• 62 ..Falling encaging member
• 63 ..Jaw cage type
• 64 .Self and ever set
• 65 ..Nonreturn entrance
• 66 ...Victim-opened
• 67 ...Victim-closed
• ..Sinking compartment

Class Number 43
58 TRAPS
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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 youre 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)
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Definition Notes

• Definitions exist for utility and plant patents
  with some exceptions.
• DO
  DONT
• 343/700
  343/700R
• Cross Reference Art Collections Digests
• Definitions do not exist for all design patents.

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Choose Definitions to Read from Class 43
58 TRAPS 64 .Self and ever set 65 ..Nonreturn
entrance 66 ...Victim-opened 67 ...Victim-closed 6
8 ..Sinking compartment 69 ..Tiltable
platform 70 ...Trigger-released 71 ..Rotatable
platform 72 ...Trigger-released
Read Definitions (Examples) Class 43 43/65
43/58 43/66 43/64
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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.
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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.
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USPTO website http//www.uspto.gov
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USPTO Patent Databases
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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

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Patents Bib/Patent Grants (continued)

• Try other classes/subclasses
• Revise search using keywords.
• Note classes/subclasses and Return to STEP 2

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PATENTS BIB ON DVD
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BIB LIST OF PATENTS FROM 43/66 36 records were
found

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USPTO website http//www.uspto.gov
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USPTO Patent Databases
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Full Text/Keyword (1976-date) Image/Class
(1790-date)
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217 Patents Found
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Text, Image, Referenced By
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T Full-Text and Image
Image Only
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Problems Viewing Images
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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/
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Keyword Search (1976-date)
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STEP 5 PATENT APPLICATION
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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

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Quick Search
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Results
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Advanced Search
43/66 yield no results
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Results
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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

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LIST OF PATENTS FROM 43/66 216 records were found
Classification 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
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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
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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.
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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)