Searching Patents for
Chemical Processes
Evans Library
Texas A&M University
February 12, 2010
Presented by
David E. Hubbard, Science and Engineering Librarian
hubbardd@tamu.edu
and
Rusty Kimball, Science and Engineering Librarian
rkimball@tamu.edu
With special thanks to Ron Hambric and Brian Carpenter
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What is a Patent?
“A patent is a grant from a government that confers upon an inventor
the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, importing, or
offering an invention for sale for a fixed period of time.” (Pressman,
2009, p. 9)
Types of Patents:
Utility - Most common type. New and useful process, machine,
article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and
useful improvement.
Design - New, original, and ornamental design for an article of
manufacture.
Plant - Invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct
and new variety of plant.
Pressman, D. (2009). Patent it yourself: Your step-by-step guide to filing at the U.S. patent office. Berkeley, CA: Nolo 2
Why Search the Patent Literature? How is this Useful?
• Technical Information
– Find solutions to technical problems (e.g., synthesize a compound,
applications for a compound, or make an article from the compound)
– Locate information that isn’t published in journals
• Legal Information
– Prepare a patent application
– Acquire/license technologies
• Business Information
– Identify key innovators/companies
– Identify and monitor technology trends
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Where You Could Encounter Patents
• As citations in the chemical literature
• When preparing a patent application
• When involved in negotiations to license patented technologies
A few factoids:
Over 7,900,000 patents have been issued by United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) since July 31, 1790.
Since 2006, approximately 400,000 patent applications are processed and
about 150,000 patents granted each year by the USPTO.
In 2006, approximately 6.1 million patents were in force worldwide.
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The 7-Step Patent Search Strategy
Classification
1. Brainstorm keywords related to the purpose, use and composition of the invention.
2. Look up the words in the Index to the U.S. Patent Classification to find potential class/subclasses.
3. Verify the relevancy of the class/subclasses by using the Classification Schedule in the Manual of
Classification.
4. Read the Classification Definitions to verify the scope of the subclasses and note "see also" references.
Access Full-Text
5. Search the Issued Patents and the Published Applications databases by "Current US Classification" and
access full text patents and published applications.
Review and References
6. Review the claims, specifications and drawings of documents retrieved for relevancy.
7. Check all references and note the "U.S. Cl." and "Field of Search" areas for additional class/subclasses
to search.
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Step #2 - Use the U.S. Patent Classification Index
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Step 3 – Verify the Relevancy of the Class / Subclass using
the Classification Schedule
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Note the Hierarchical Setup of the Class Schedule
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Step 4 – Read the Classification Definitions and Verify Scope
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Step 5 – Search Issued Patents and Access Full-Text
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Search Issued Patents and Access Full-Text (con’t)
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A Note about Accessing and Viewing Patents
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Reading a Patent
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Step 6 – Review the Claims, Description, and Drawings.
Claims Define the Unique Features of the Invention
and Determine Patentability
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The Description provides a brief summary of the invention,
description of drawings (if any), background information on
the invention, and a detailed description of the invention
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Step 7 – Review References
- Patents which are cited by the inventor
- References that cite this patent
- Other related works (e.g., journal articles, etc.)
Note Classifications assigned and Field of Search
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Viewing the Patent Images
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TIFF Image of U.S. Patent 6,740,302
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Drawings
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Specifications
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Claims
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Printing and Saving Images Using the TIFF Viewer
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Installing the TIFF Viewer
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United States Patent and Trademark Office Website
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Searching by Patent Number
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Searching by Patent Number (con’t)
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Searching by Patent Number (con’t)
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Accessing and Viewing Older Patents
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Search for Published (Pending) Patent Applications
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Search for Published (Pending) Patent Applications (con’t)
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Search for Published (Pending) Patent Applications (con’t)
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TIFF Image of a Patent Application Publication
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Unable to locate a chemical in the USPC Index? Try
searching the Merck Index, Kirk-Othmer, or Ullmann’s for
the chemical and then a patent number. Then search the
USPTO Patent Full-text & Image Database using the patent
number to find the Class / Subclasses
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Library’s Class Guide for CHEM 470
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