Patent Search is a process of making sure that your invention is unique, and one of the first things an inventor has to think about before registering his idea. (For trademark search – see the instruction below, in the trademark section).
Instructions:
Let’s start simple: make a list of all possible titles and descriptions of your invention, and use search engines (yahoo.com or google.com) for any matches. The thing is your invention could be in stores already, you just might not know about that.
If nothing’s found, we need to search Patent Database. We recommend you to follow next steps with us to get a proper understanding.
Ok, for example, we have our idea for Essential Oiled Bracelet, that’s how we do it – go to USPTO Database http://patft.uspto.gov, click on “Quick Search” under ‘Issued Patents’, enter “bracelet” for Term1 and choose ‘title’ in Field1, and click “search” button. We have a list of results for different bracelet, and need to find the closest one to ours – so we choose ‘perfume bracelet’, clicking on it and find that its US Classification is D11/4 (usually below is shown the information which classifications were patent searched for that particular patent – that could be used for advanced searching later). Now we start it all over, and now instead of title enter prime classification number “D11/4” for the Term 1 and Field1 is “Current US Classification”. We have 191 results, every result we have to review carefully to be sure none of them match my invention. If none, just in case check other classifications for advance search. Then we do all the same for “Essential Oil” as a Term1, and so on. Upon accomplishing patent search make a detailed report of your search results for further references.
It’s not that complicated as it looks. Good patent-search results gives you enough confidence that official patent search will be successful; if you find something similar to your invention – think how can you make your invention different and function differently? Can you improve it – make it less, bigger, change shape, sizes, colors..?
If you want to be 100% - sure that your idea is unique and completely new before doing any further moves, we recommend you to use patent search services for independent inventors, such as www.internationalpatentsearch.com. Prior to that make an accurate record of your invention as a proof of ownership (see next chapter for details).
Useful Links:
-
1“Ask the Inventor” web-site – http://asktheinventors.com/Books/patentsearch.htm
-
2“InventNet” website – http://www.inventnet.com/patent_search/patent_search.html
-
3Google Patent Search tips http://www.google.com/googlepatents/help.html
©2011 IdeaIntoProduct
