Free US patent search - The revelation that will save you time and money.
Over the last few years, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and other organizations have put patent databases online — free for everyone’s review and search.
The service provided directly by the USPTO. http://www.uspto.gov/patft
Many inventors conduct a preliminary patent search prior to hiring a patent agent or patent attorney to file a patent. This search is generally performed to discover whether or not a particular invention is truly original or if, in fact, it has already been patented.
POSSIBLE PROBLEM
If they find no patents exactly like their invention they are happy and continue on their merry way. This is a very poor approach because there is more research needed.
We suggest examining patents closely to find additional possible product features, identify other potential uses for products, identify companies recently receiving patents in the area (potential licensees), closely study the background sections and any data presented in the background sections and any data presented in the patents. You can learn a great deal from those who have gone before.
A patent search by an attorney or company can run up to $1,000 or more, especially if your invention is in what’s called a “crowded” field of art — that is, lots and lots of products in the same field of your invention.
Patent searching is an interactive task.
To do a good search you must determine how your invention works, NOT how you will use your invention. For example, an improvement on an automobile switch will be found with switches--not with automobiles. Why, because the invention is a switch, not an automobile.
Why Conduct a Preliminary Patent Search?
A. Patent searches are conducted for many purposes. Among them are to:
1. Determine if a particular invention is unique
2. Identify potential features for new product
3. Identify other possible uses for a new product
4. Determine independent inventors or companies currently or historically obtaining patents in a particular area
5. Find the patent(s) for a particular invention
6. Determine the state of the art in a particular area
7. Identify patents in a specific field for generating citation maps (a tool in determining the relative importance/value of a specific invention
8. Study the rate of innovation in a particular area
9. Determine the patent portfolio of a specific company
10. Determine if an invention infringes upon the intellectual property rights of others
11. Learn about an industry or a specific company
12. Search for potential solutions to design or safety problems
13. Identify potential licensees
14. To identify additional reference materials such as journal articles, books, product literature of use to those working in this area. Patents often list printed reference materials.
15. Identify inventors working in a certain field.
B. Conduct a Self-Search
The 7-Step U. S. Patent Search Strategy
Step 1: Determine what type of patent you will be seeking. A utility patent covers the functional aspects of an invention, while a design patent only covers the appearance of an invention.
Step 2: Access an online patent database such as the ones provided by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Determine the most relevant classes and subclasses for your invention.
Step 3: Read the class descriptions in the database to see which are relevant to your idea.
Step 4: Review all patents issued within those classes.
Step 5: Perform comprehensive keyword searches for your potential invention. Leave no stone unturned.
Step 6: Assemble your search results into a report that can be readily referenced.
Step 7: If and when it is time to proceed for a full patent, provide all of your referenced information to the patent attorney or agent you hire.
Completing a preliminary patent search on your own is really not difficult. You just need to have the time to sift through the information, document it and present it to your patent attorney/agent down the road.
If you are concerned about doing your own search and don’t mind investing a few dollars, we can offer a preliminary patent search for you for only $397.00. Give us a call at 1-888-780-3463 to discuss your options.
| Thomas Edison – the most important inventor in modern history. Did you know that Edison had 1,093 patents? Not all of his patents became financially successful. His Light Bulb patent (left) and his actual first working light bulb (right) are one of his most famous inventions. This invention made him wealthy. On September 4, 1882, the first commercial power station, located on Pearl Street in lower Manhattan, went into operation providing light and electricity power to customers in a one square mile area; the electric age had begun. |
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