Don Costar
Helping inventors Search the Internet
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don@doncostar.com
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Letter to Peter Xxxxx:
Peter's Question: "Has search information been put on the internet? That would make it easier to access."
Yeah, Peter, it has. And yes, it is easier than going to the library and searching the paper files. I'll give you the steps to do your own patent search on line, and I think you will agree it is much nicer to do it at home on your computer. It is really not difficult, and once you've done it a couple times it will seem pretty easy.
Go to my website: http://www.doncostar.com and click on "U.S. Patent & Trademark Office." Then on the left side of the page, two down, click on "patents." In the window that pops up click on "search" -- six down. Now on two down, click on "Advanced Search."
Now you're ready to go to work. You will see a window under the word "Query" where you can type in the search text. Let's say we want to search for patents in the "Rechargeable flashlight" category. Notice under the text box a "chart of codes" for searching in different ways? The fourth one down is a four letter code "ABST" for searching the abstracts of patents. That's the single paragraph on the front page of a patent that condenses the main idea of the patent. I personally like to search the abstracts because the search words are usually found there.
So OK, the proper way to enter the search text in the box would be ABST/(rechargeable and flashlight) Don't forget to put a forward slash mark after the ABST (without any spaces) and then enclose "rechargeable and flashlight" in parentheses because it's more than one word in the search description. Also, you have to put the word "and" between them or it won't search the way you want it to, if at all. That's called the "Boolean" search method for searching on the internet.
Then click on "search." You notice it comes up with a list of 69 patents, all highlighted in blue color. You can click on any one of the patents in blue and it will bring up the full text of the patent. If you want to view the drawings, then you have to click on "images" in the group of boxes on the top of the page -- all in red color.
Now you may, or may not, have a problem with the images popping up easily for viewing. If it doesn't work then you have to download a free software off the internet to read the patent office images in "tiff" form.
To do that you must go to the URL http://www.alternatiff.com and snoop around until you find the right one to click on to download the latest version of "Alternatiff" onto your computer. It is free, but if you don't have it installed before you begin searching you won't be able to view the patent images, or "drawings."
Once you become familiar with the features of the patent office search page you'll find it's really very versatile. A good and valuable tool for inventors.
So there you are Peter. That should work, but if you run into trouble give me a call (my number is on my website.) Or send me an e-mail.
Hope this helps,
Don Costar
Patent searching
Patent and trademark office http://www.uspto.gov/
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2007 Don Costar. All rights reserved
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