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Beyond Google. Effective Patent Searching In Every Library. At one time, to do a patent search…. Now…85 Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries . Two In North Carolina. UNC-Charlotte PTDL. NCSU PTDL. And now, web access to patents goes back to 1790…. What Can Your Library Do? --LOTS!.
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Beyond Google Effective Patent Searching In Every Library
Two In North Carolina UNC-Charlotte PTDL NCSU PTDL
What Can Your Library Do? --LOTS! • Direct inventors to web sites • http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/ptdl/ • http://www.uspto.gov –BUT direct to specific resources like Inventors Resources section • Install TIFF reader software • Provide information on search strategy • However, do NOT do a search for someone Search
What Can They Only Do @ a PTDL? CASSIS (discs) and PubWEST (secure) databases for: • Abstracts and full images of European & Japanese patents (in PubWEST) (but in that foreign language) • More sophisticated searching (in PubWEST) • Enables combining search sets, use of proximity operators, etc. • Easier searching of pre-1976 patents (either database) • Downloading lots of patents (in CASSIS—for now)
More They Can Do @ a PTDL • Plant patent collection (photos) • Print resources (how-to and other books) • How to do searches • How to write claims in an application • Inventor resources • Small business resources (At Present)
Search Strategy(or, Why Google Isn’t Enough) • Brainstorm synonyms • Look up in Index • Identify class and subclass #s • Read class & subclass definitions • Review patents (& apps!) in those classes • Trace related patents through references • Search non-patent literature
Mock Search 1. Brainstorm Terms
Pathway • http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/ptdl/ • Patents (sidebar on left) • How to Search for Patents (sidebar) • Dropdown menu - I am an inventor doing a patentability search. • Seven–Step Process w/ links to tools
The Manual: Class and Subclass Scope Exercising.......482 / 142+
Exercising.......482 / 142+ 4. Class Definitions
Reminder: Search Strategy • Brainstorm synonyms • Look up in Index • Identify class and subclass #s • Read class & subclass definitions • Review patents (& apps!) in those classes • Trace related patents through references • Search non-patent literature
5. The Apps of a Given Class • Copy just the numbers from this search: • 482/142 Click the Home link circled above
5. The Apps Database Select the Quick Search
5. The Apps Database Paste the numbers in the search box
Where Were We? Oh, right—Step Six • Brainstorm synonyms • Look up in Index • Identify class and subclass #s • Read class & subclass definitions • Review patents (& apps!) in those classes • Trace related patents through references • Search non-patent literature
The Structure of a Patent Brief Description Brief Description 6. {
The Structure of a Patent Claims Description
7. Non-Patent Literature • Articles • Conference proceedings • Blogs—Web sites—listservs • Anything publicly accessible
DO Use a generic example Explain search strategy Direct to print & online resources Refer to PTDLs and USPTO DON’T Ask for the details of an invention Fill out forms for someone Interpret rules or process given a particular situation Speculate on an outcome Accept completed forms Dos and Don’ts
Contact Info • NCSU Libraries Michele Hayslett (919) 513-4433 http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/ptdl/ • UNC-Charlotte’s Atkins Library (704) 687-2241 (Reference Desk) http://library.uncc.edu/patents/ • USPTO (800) 786-9199, Option #2 then #5 http://www.uspto.gov/
Search Caveats When Seeking Patents by a Particular Person • If a person invented something while working at a company or university, his or her name will be listed as the INVENTOR, while the ASSIGNEE is usually the company or university. • Variations in how a name is LISTED and SPELLED Joe Brown, Joseph Brown, Joseph A. Brown, J.A. Brown –or Browne! • Can’t search names on USPTO web site if before 1976
Other Printing Options Online • Free or Fast • Search capabilities often limited • Patent Logistics' Free Patent Fetcher http://free.patentfetcher.com/ • pat2pdf http://www.pat2pdf.org/ • Google Patent A few of many