MOVABLE OR REMOVABLE CLOSURES
U. S. PATENT RESOURCES
As general guidance, a complete search of U. S. patents in this art area will include the following:
- A classified search of the original classification class and subclass for the subject matter and the other highly relevant art areas in the US patent documents
- A text search of the US patent documents; patents, PG PUB, and OCR databases:
- Broad text search for the general inventive concept(s), not limited by classification
- Narrow text search for the specific claimed invention
- Boolean text search employing the relevant inventive terms
The resources listed below are internal USPTO search
tools. However, the information that they cover is available either
commercially, on the USPTO web site, or in the Public Search Facility
on the USPTO Headquarters campus and the Patent and Trademark Depository
Libraries.
EAST/WEST
- EAST Coverage: 1971 - present, Full Text: 1971 - present
- WEST Coverage: 1971 - present, Full Text: 1971 - present
Full text patent and inventor searching.
Classification searching is the most useful. Drawings are key. The terms are generic which makes text searching difficult, for example a bevel gear might be called a bevel gear or might just be called a gear. A door can be called many different things - a panel, a cabinet closure, or just a closure. Text searching can be useful when there is just one way to describe the object. Backward and forward citation searching has proven to be useful for this class.
BRS Search/USOCR Database
- EAST Coverage: 1920 - 1970, Full Text: 1920 - 1970
- WEST Coverage: 1920 - 1970, Full Text: 1920 - 1970
Full text of U.S. patent grants.
Classification searching is the most useful. Drawings are key. The terms are generic which makes text searching difficult, for example a bevel gear might be called a bevel gear or might just be called a gear. A door can be called many different things - a panel, a cabinet closure, or just a closure. Text searching can be useful when there is just one way to describe the object.
PGPUBS
- EAST Coverage: 2001 - present, Full Text: 2001 - present
- WEST Coverage: 2001 - present, Full Text: 2001 - present
U.S. published applications.
Classification searching is the most useful. Drawings are key. The terms are generic which makes text searching difficult, for example a bevel gear might be called a bevel gear or might just be called a gear. A door can be called many different things - a panel, a cabinet closure, or just a closure. Text searching can be useful when there is just one way to describe the object.
FOREIGN PATENT RESOURCES
Searched separately from the U.S. Patent Search. These databases consist of abstract documents. Text searching abstracts requires the use of different search logic e.g. the use of broad Boolean and/or operators instead of narrow proximity operators.
Derwent World Patents Index and the contents of the EPO Abstracts and JPO Abstracts are available commercially.
Derwent World Patents Index, Classification and Text Search
- EAST Coverage: 1963 - present, Full Text: - N/A
- WEST Coverage: 1963 - present, Full Text: - N/A
English abstracts database of patent documents from more than 40 patent-issuing authorities.
Used for text searching.
EPO Abstracts, Text and Classification Search
- EAST Coverage: 1978 - present, Full Text: - N/A
- WEST Coverage: 1978 - present, Full Text: - N/A
English abstracts database of patents and published applications from EPO, WO/PCT, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Switzerland. USPC searching is limited to documents added to the database from 1978 to September 30, 1995.
Used for text searching.
EPO esp@cenet
- esp@cenet Coverage: 1920 - present, Full Text: 1920 - present
National patent information from all member states of the EPO as well as bibliographic data from patents worldwide.
Used for translations and document retrieval.
FPAS3
- Coverage: - , Full Text: -
USPTO foreign document retrieval system.
JPO Abstracts, Text and Classification Search
- EAST Coverage: 1976 - present, Full Text: - N/A
- WEST Coverage: 1976 - present, Full Text: - N/A
English abstracts database of Japanese published unexamined applications. USPC searching is limited to documents added to the database from 1978 to September 30, 1995.
Used for text searching.
JPO Industrial Property Digital Library
- NCIPI Coverage: 1976 - present, Full Text: 1976 - present
Japanese patent information.
Used for translations and document retrieval.
NON-PATENT LITERATURE RESOURCES
The resources listed are those that USPTO staff have found consistently yield the most relevant search results.
Commercial databases available through a single vendor can generally be searched simultaneously,
although it is preferable to search full text and bibliographic databases in separate
groupings. In addition to the use of subscription databases and public Internet
sites, it is recommended that books, manuals, standards and specifications be
considered in the search for prior art.
CSA Technology Research Database (TRD)
- Dialog Coverage: 1963 - present, Full Text: - N/A
Megafile of the technical bibliographic databases provided by Cambridge Scientific Abstracts.
Subjects covered include materials science, engineering, aerospace, and high technology. Includes journal articles, conference papers, technical reports, books and standards.
Knovel
- Knovel Coverage: Dates - vary, Full Text: Dates - vary
Science and engineering books and databases.
Full text engineering and scientific reference books with interactive tables and graphs. Titles include Mark's Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers.
ProQuest Direct
- ProQuest Coverage: Dates - vary, Full Text: 1986 - present
Current periodicals and newspapers, as well as archives of major newspapers.
Bibliographic and full text records of general interest and business magazines. Also includes newspaper archives dating back to the 19th century. Some records include pictures.
RAPRA: Rubber and Plastics
- Dialog Coverage: 1972 - present, Full Text: - N/A
- Questel Orbit Coverage: 1972 - present, Full Text: - N/A
- STN Coverage: 1972 - present, Full Text: - N/A
Covers the technical, academic, and commercial aspects of the rubber, plastics, and adhesives industries, with information on machinery and test equipment, and processing technology.
INTERNET SEARCH TOOLS
An Internet search should be considered when a search
of the resources listed above fails to locate relevant prior art.
A preliminary Internet search may be performed to obtain an overview
of the technology, and to identify additional search terms and related
product information.
Google TM
- Google Coverage: - N/A, Full Text: - N/A
Internet search engine.
This resource may be useful if a picture can be found and dated.
Internet Archive
- Internet Archive Coverage: - N/A, Full Text: - N/A
Provides permanent access to historical collections that exist in digital format.
Wayback Machine used for dating web pages in those cases where prior art is found on the internet.
Public Comments on the Search Templates
Public comments on the search templates are invited.
Comments should address the points enumerated in the Criteria
for Evaluating Recommended Search Resources. Comments can be
submitted via the Search
Template Project e-mail link on each template page or by mail
addressed to:
Mail Stop Patents Search Template Comments
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
Electronic submission is preferred. The Office will respond to comments in writing.
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