Performing a Patent Search

How to do it: Read the Classification Manual and locate the numbers. Check if the words fall in the system for Patent Classification.. Read through the whole class schedule and make sure to take the dot indent into consideration.

Check all patent documents that are related to the invention to find out if this invention is a lot different from the other inventions. Some of the documents can be found on the web of the Patent and Trademark Office, some on CD-ROM, some on paper.

Use the web to perform a patent search. You will be able to do this on USPTO website or Delphion website. Both of them are free to use.

You can search for keywords in the Classification Manual.

You will need the number of a specific patent to find a patent online if it's registered before 1976. Check for other patents by the same inventor as well.

Try to find the class of all patents. When you have done that, make sure to get a list of all existing patent numbers in every class.

In the list you will find all patents that matches your keywords. If you press the title link you will be taken to the entire document about that specific patent.

You can go to a patent and trademark depository library. There are 87 of them and you will be able to get help from a librarian to get better search results.

Visit the patent section at Official Gazette to check drawings of all patents to be able to exclude patents that are not related to your invention.

Make a search in another class or subclass. Use some keywords here as well. Make sure to write down the classes on your matches.

Check the Patents BIB to find a specific class. See if you are on the right track.

Figure out keywords that fit in on your invention. See if you can find anything like it when you search for product, use and many other things.

To find important search information and tips for future search you can read the classification definitions.

It might be a good idea to take help from a professional person to do the research. If you think you have the ability to do it yourself that is ok as well though.If an invention similar to yours has ever been granted a patent you can't be allowed patent on your invention.

Tips:

Hire a lawyer or a research company that can help you with the more difficult research. You can perform your own research and afterwards you can compare the results you have received with the results from the professional.

Find out what kind of research the person you have hired is going to perform. What sources are going to be searched and how is he going to write down the results?

Make sure to get help from a librarian that is actually familiar with patent searching. Everyone isn't.

Make sure to write a contract which protects you from scams when you hire a lawyer or a research company.

Start with finding the class numbers on each patent. Try to find the meaning of the number in the Classification Manual and after that you can continue to the Classification definitions to find out what kind of invention it is.