I have the easiest way to do a preliminary patent search, the Google search patents. You can complete simple search and then work from the database to get a good idea if your product idea has already been patented. This research has not necessarily to all other patents, but it is a good start. Another good aspect of the site of Google Patent Search is that it gives the list of pending patents and published by the patentOffice, but has not yet been issued.
To put the best out of a Google search, you can not only in the name of your idea and then do a Google search. This will leave out too many patents, patent applications if the terms are used, different from yours. They must contain all the citations in patents for further information.
To give you a better idea of how to get the maximum benefit, I listed all the steps and procedures for an inventor who camethe idea of an outlet, if not a child could throw in the towel on a pedestal.
Step 1: General Keyword
I went into the Google search box on the concept of Safe Electric Plug. Then I have to patents listed were connected until I fell, that was more similar to the idea of the product found. The patent, which is the next seemed, was brought to safety and the provision of U.S. Pat 5702259 – Filed August 12, 1996th I clicked on the patent and if the ideawas not the same, it was the same general purposes, so that I can use it as a starting point.
Step 2: Check the "Quotes" and "through" the article on Google
When viewing a patent, do something in a certain way, and you will see on the left side of the screen sections called "Quotes" and "from" referenced.
"Quotes" are patents that the patent to be considered as prior art references. "Referred by" Patents are citing patentThey look like the prior art. In this example, we consider the patent was published in 1996, but were the "Referred by" patent list of sections, which are listed, all the way to 2008. You can use this technique to see many, if not most of the recent patent application for your product idea is similar.
Patent applications are possible competing patents list and then explain how the new patent applicationdraw on existing patents. Usually patent applications reference many patents are in many cases only marginally similar to the concept of product details in the application. This means that if one only to come close to you the idea that you, as a rule on patents that are closest to your idea is zero.
Step 3: Click on "citations" and "by" The patent search patent is referenced, which is closest to your idea
In the case of our pluga child does not easily pull the plug, the next idea was patent number: 6988903, application date: March 31, 2005, Publication date: 24 January 2006, Inventor: Jen-Jen Cheng, assigns: Edac Power Electronics Co., Ltd.
Step 4: Click on "citations" and by "nearest patents listed patent your idea, find, more patents were published reference, which could be very close to your idea
In this particular case, ifReview of the "Quotes" and "through" patents in the patent applications referenced above, I found a very strong patent the idea of a product patent number: 6893275, Filing date is: 26 February 2003, Publication date: 17 May 2005, Inventor: Kenneth Ng Edmund Ng, Agent: Koncept Technologies Inc.
What information
Just because you see for sale similar to a patent, does not mean you can not ask for and obtained a patent, a decision which may be theBest done by a patent attorney. But the search will give you better information for you to go further. If your business has been full of patents related to your idea, chances are that you have a narrow and specific patent claims that can not receive any competitive harm. If you do not have much activity, you can still willing to go with your idea, but you must realize that it is difficult, an idea, with a licenselimited application, and you run the risk that someone changes the approach a little, then quickly to compete with you. You want your investment than the probability of success would be lower limits.
Narrow vs. broad claims
In the previous paragraph, I mentioned the concept of narrow claims. In the discussion of the patent, you will often hear the term feels strong and broad patent claims. Most of the industrial narrow claims are of limited value, while the applications can be very largevaluable. But in reality, many narrow patents are broad enough to offer protection and even a very narrow patent value if it only put a limited number of design decisions is the idea of the inventor.
A broad claim is abstract and too general in nature and covers a lot of ground. The lower part of the original claim by Samuel Morse, for example, was for "the use of electromagnetism for making or printing intelligible characters at any distance. It is a very broad range of applications with d 'massiveValue. (Patent Office rejected this request and Morse was forced to) they restrict.
A patent has a close, many properties, and is limited to a patent, the infringing product must not infringe on each claim element. An example of an application for a quick shower caddy patent number: 5014860, Filing date: 1 August 1989, Publication date: 14 May 1991
A caddy device for installation on a non-porous wall consisting of:
Frame with a horizontal axis Element of the arm;
a variety of elements mounted vertically, said horizontal component;
tell-a horizontal bar attached to vertical members at each end of the horizontal bar above it is a suction cup to get their commitments and sliding doors
The connecting elements attached to each end of the frame, said a device Caddy form.
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Remember, Google is just looking for a temporary, and it just gives you an idea of the state of the art> Patent activity for your product. It tells you if you thought of an idea rather unique that nobody else has ever. If there is an activity which is not the same note with your idea, your patents, you have a patent attorney and do not get a professional opinion from a patent attorney or, you can minimize a patent for your direct competition.