Patents & Trademarks  Tags: patents trademarks patent_searching pubwest esp@cenet inventors  

Use Tools to Help in Searching by Patent Classification to seach by class/subclass in the classification schedules to view subclass definitions, to find related class/subclass codes to search, and to view patents by class/subclass.

To view Class Definitions

• "Enter a US Patent Classification..." (Class/Subclass numbers)
• Select "Class Definition (HTML)"
• Click "Submit"
• To view patents classed under the definition, click the red 'P' to its left
• To view the subclass number schedule, click the number to the left

To view Class Schedules

• "Enter a US Patent Classification..." (Class/Subclass numbers)
• Select "Class Schedule (HTML)"
• Click "Submit"
• To view patents in a subclass, click the red 'P' to its left
• To view a definition of a subclass, click the subclass number to the left

First, search by keywords in Google Patent Search or the USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database to identify relevant U.S. classifications.

Search Issued Patents by classification number

• Use the USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Databases
• Click on "Quick Search" under "Issued Patents"
• In the "Select Years" field, change the pull-down to "1790 to present [entire database]"
  
• In "Term 1" enter the classification/subclassification (ex.: 119/51.04)
• In "Field 1" select "Current US Classification"
  
• Click "Search"
• Check results number at top of page
  • Add keyword to refine search (use "Term 2" box on search form) if results number is large
• Browse the list of patent titlesView full-text of patents similar to your idea, by clicking on patent number or title
  • To view images download free TIFF plug-in

Search Published Applications by classification number

• Use the USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Databases
• Clickon "Quick Search" under "Published Applications"
• In "Term 1" enter class/subclass number (ex.: 428/403)
• In "Field 1" select "Current US Classification"
• Click "Search"