Patent Search Process

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Patent Search Process

Patent Searching: Tools & Techniques by David Hunt, Long Nguyen, and Matthew Rodgers.

Patent Searching Made Easy - 4th Edition by David Hitchcock

The USPTO has developed a simplified seven step patent search process. All of these steps can now be done using free Web sources. (See other sections of this site for more detail on each source used in this search process.)

(1) Search the Index to the U.S. Patent Classification to begin to get an idea of the relevant classes and subclasses pertaining to your search.

2. Use the U.S. Manual of Classification to further identify the classes and subclasses by which to search.

3. Review the Classification Definitions to further refine your searching by class and subclass or to add additional classes and subclasses to your search.

4. To make sure you are on the right track, browse sample patent titles and abstracts obtained from your search. Use the USPTO Patent Databases or the Delphion Intellectual Property Network.

5. Once you are are sure of the relevant classes and subclasses, retrieve a listing of the individual patent numbers from all the relevant classes/subclasses. Again, use the USPTO Patent Databases or the Delphion Intellectual Property Network . You should also look at relevant published patent applications (available from March 2001-from the USPTO).

6. Use the U.S. Official Gazette to look at descriptions of each patent to eliminate those not relevant. (OR go directly to Step 7 and eliminate irrelevant patents as you look at the full patent documents.)

7. Use the USPTO Patent Databases or the Delphion Intellectual Property Network to review the complete patent documents.

For additional information:

A useful tutorial titled "Patent Searching: Tutorial and Guide to Online Resources," is also available from the University of Texas at Austin.