Thanks to hyperlinks, finding interesting patents is easier than it used to be. And thanks to the U.S. Patent Office Classification System, you don’t have to rely on key words to produce the best results.
Here is an example of a path to the right classification number
Click on a classification number link
Study the definition
Decide whether it seems promising
Copy the classification number and paste it into the appropriate box on the patent search form.
STEP ONE: Suppose you have found the following patent …
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Crude oil desulfurization
Bruce E. Reynolds
Application number: 09/896,224
Publication number: US 2003/0000867 A1 Filing date: Jun 28, 2001 Issued patent: US6841062 (Issue date Jan 11, 2005) |
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STEP TWO: Click on each of the U.S. Classification links and read the description. Choose one or more of the classificatios.
In this example, there are three (3) classification numbers.
Current U.S. Classification: 208/89; 208/58; 208/59
STEP THREE: Do a Google® Patent Search on one of the U.S. Classifications
Let’s say that the description of classification number 208/58 looks interesting.
STEP FOUR: Scroll to the bottom of the results page and click Advanced Search
STEP FIVE: In the Advanced Search form, cut 208/58 and paste it into the box labeled Current U.S. Classification.
This produces about 700 hits.
STEP SIX: Modify by adding “desulfurization” in the box labeled With All the Words.
STEP SEVEN: Focus the search even more by using the Publication Date feature in the left column of the results page.
One of the resulting patents …
Hydrocarbon conversion process
www.google.com/patents/US7906013
Grant - Filed Feb 12, 2010 - Issued Mar 15, 2011 - Peter Kokayeff - UOP LLC
A process is provided to produce an ultra low sulfur diesel with ...
The beauty of this approach is that the U.S. Patent Office has done a lot of the work for you. Once you know the system, you can save yourself a lot of time.
