1 Searching Patents for Chemical Processes Ron Hambric Patent & Trademark Research Center Evans Library 1 st Floor, Room 105 Hours: M-F 8-10am and 1-3pm Phone –

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3 The World’s Patenting Offices Depositary of the largest databases of technical knowledge

4 What types of patent documents are there? For the United States Patent Office over 7.4 million patents have issued since July 31, 1790 Patent types – Utility, design and plant 2004 Total patents issues – 181,322 As of Tuesday morning - 6,993,790 – files Aug. 30, 2001

5 An article made from the compound or How is this useful to me as a chemist? A process for preparing a compound or A composition containing a compound or An article made containing the compound or A method of using the compound for a specific purpose

6 Where you could encounter patents - As citations in chemical literature When preparing a patent application When involved in the negotiations for licensing a patent

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8 Type “patent” in this Field and click on “Submit”

9 Then click on the title with your left mouse button

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11 Scroll to bottom of window and select “Tools”

12 Beginning the Search – Step #1 in the Seven Step Strategy – Use ‘U.S. Patent Classification Index’ NOT Select ‘USPC Index’ button

13 Looking for “Hydrogen Peroxide” Select the Letter ‘H’ for “Hydrogen”

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15 Use browser ‘Find’ function to search page for the word “Hydrogen”

16 Hydrofluosilic Acid / 341 Hydrofoils / 274 Hydrogen / Alloys for storage / 900* Carbureting / 199 R Apparatus / 116+ Compositions containing / 372+ Electrolytic synthesis / 637+ Exchange disproportionation Hydrogenation by / 257 Olefin synthesis by / 656 Generative composition / Ion Electrolytic analysis or testing / For ph / Testing electrolytic apparatus / 433 Testing systems / 438 Peroxide / 584+ Electrolytic synthesis / 465+ Electrostatic field or / 175 Electrical discharge synthesis / 175 Treatment / 943* Sulphide Synthetic resin or natural / 343+ Rubber vulcanization with / *48199 R * Located the subject “Hydrogen” then “Peroxide” Class / subclass is 423 / 584+ Hyperlinks to ‘Manual of Classification’

17 ‘Class 423’ hyperlink to definition of class Step #2 – Class 423, Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds

18 Note the Manual’s Hierarchical Setup Scanning down the schedule we find the appropriate ‘peroxide’ by following the schedule hierarchy from least specific to most specific Subclass ‘584’ looks good Check its definition using the hyperlink

19 Step #3 – Finding the Definition for 423/584 Note that ‘See’ references can provide suggestions for further searching Use the red “P” hyperlink See all patents for a Particular class/subclass

20 Step #4 – Reviewing the Results Found Clicking on the links will take you to the full text of the patent Using the ‘Refine Search’ We could narrow our search. If necessary, by adding keywords

21 Full-Text and Image Only Patents Example of a classification having patents granted before 1976 A patent displaying a “T” icon has the full text available for viewing. A patent displaying the “picture” icon, only has the patent image available for viewing.

22 Step #5 – Find out it you are on the Right Path Looking at patents present Scrolling down and reviewing titles, it looks like number 5,961,948 might be worth reviewing

23 Step #6 Reading the Information from a Patent Patent Number and date issued Title of the Invention Abstract of patent Inventors’ names Assignee Information Classification information

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25 Valuable information can be found from the listed References Patents which are cited by the inventor References which cited this patent Other references – journal articles, patent applications, etc

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27 The description gives a brief summary of the invention, a description of the any drawings, useful background information of the invention and a detailed description of the invention

28 Examples listed in a patent shows how the invention works

29 Claims identify the features of the invention that make it patentable Classes / Subclasses supports the claims

30 Retrieved Image for US patent 5,961,948

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35 Select the ‘Search’ button under Patents

36 Retrieving a patent when we have the patent number Select the “Patent Number Search”

37 Retrieve patent number 3,492,131 Input patent number as a seven digit number Select the ‘Search’ button

38 Full Text is not available View the patent image by selecting the ‘Image’ button Note: Current U.S. Class is displayed

39 Viewing an earlier patent document style Use the tool bar in the document window to print, save, enlarge document view, etc. Use these buttons to select pages of patent

40 Note: U.S. CL. 99 – 141 Is an old Classification Current Classification “426/548” was shown on search result page

41 Looking at the Patent Image To view digital images of your Patent click on “Images.” If you computer does not an Image viewer, click on “Help”

42 A Word About the Images This link will take you to the viewers for the patent images Installation instructions will be found on that page

43 Searching the Published Applications Select - ‘Quick Search’ button

44 Searching Published Applications Fill boxes with search terms

45 Searching 432/584 (class/subclass) for Hydrogen Peroxide

46 Results of Search for 423/584 (class/subclass) Note: format of Pub. App. Num. Select the first application

47 In the format of a patent Line (10) – Pub. No. US 2006/

48 Could not find ‘Aspartame’ in USPC Index Used the Merck Index to locate addition information Found – US Patent Found class/sub/class as 426/548

49 Can’t find a starting Class/subclass The Merck Index Encyclopedia of Chemical Trademarks and Synonyms Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry Scifinder Scholar – Chemical Abstracts Search patent by keyword or synonym

50 Advantages of using the Patent & Trademark Research Center PubWEST – Web-based Examiner’s Search Tool Searches can be saved U.S. patents Full – Text back to 1971 U.S. Pre-Grand Publication Full-Text U.S. OCR Full-Text – 1920 to 1970 Foreign Patent Images

51 Chempat Website – follow links Lib. Home page, Collections. General Collections, Patents, Select – Teaching Guides for Chemistry