1 Searching Patents for Chemical Processes Evans Library Texas A&M University February 12, 2010 With special thanks to Ron Hambric and Brian Carpenter Presented by David E. Hubbard, Science and Engineering Librarian and Rusty Kimball, Science and Engineering Librarian

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

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 3 Why Search the Patent Literature? How is this Useful?

As citations in the chemical literature When preparing a patent application When involved in negotiations to license patented technologies A few factoids: O ver 7,900,000 patents have been issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) since July 31, 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. 4 Where You Could Encounter Patents

5 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. Index to the U.S. Patent Classification 3. Verify the relevancy of the class/subclasses by using the Classification Schedule in the Manual of Classification. Classification ScheduleManual of Classification 4. Read the Classification Definitions to verify the scope of the subclasses and note "see also" references. Classification Definitions 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.Issued PatentsPublished 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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9 Step #2 - Use the U.S. Patent Classification Index

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13 Step 3 – Verify the Relevancy of the Class / Subclass using the Classification Schedule

14 Note the Hierarchical Setup of the Class Schedule

15 Step 4 – Read the Classification Definitions and Verify Scope

16 Step 5 – Search Issued Patents and Access Full-Text

17 Search Issued Patents and Access Full-Text (con’t)

18 A Note about Accessing and Viewing Patents

19 Reading a Patent

20 Step 6 – Review the Claims, Description, and Drawings. Claims Define the Unique Features of the Invention and Determine Patentability

21 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

22 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

23 Viewing the Patent Images

24 TIFF Image of U.S. Patent 6,740,302

25 Drawings

26 Specifications

27 Claims

28 Printing and Saving Images Using the TIFF Viewer

29 Installing the TIFF Viewer

30 United States Patent and Trademark Office Website

31 Searching by Patent Number

32 Searching by Patent Number (con’t)

33 Searching by Patent Number (con’t)

34 Accessing and Viewing Older Patents

35 Search for Published (Pending) Patent Applications

36 Search for Published (Pending) Patent Applications (con’t)

37 Search for Published (Pending) Patent Applications (con’t)

38 TIFF Image of a Patent Application Publication

39 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

40 Library’s Class Guide for CHEM 470