MACHINE ELEMENT OR MECHANISM

Classification 74/all - subclasses >> view this class definition

U. S. PATENT RESOURCES

As general guidance, a complete search of U. S. patents in this art area will include the following:

1. 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
2. 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.

Broad text search is performed first, and then results are narrowed with classification. Terminology is broad; use synonyms to ensure a complete search. For example, a lever can be described many ways, such as bar or handle or shaft etc. This class is a sub-combination class (a gear for an engine). Identify where the combination is cross referenced and search there. Then go outside of the class to where the problem to be solved resides. For example, an actuator for a garage door. Forward and backward citation searching is 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.

PGPUBS

EAST Coverage: 2001 - present, Full Text: 2001 - present

WEST Coverage: 2001 - present, Full Text: 2001 - present

U.S. published applications.

PLUS

Coverage: 1971 - present, Full Text: 1971 - present

USPTO search system for U.S. patents.

PLUS (Patent Linguistics Utility System) is a USPTO search system that produces a list of the most closely, related patents to the application searched. The system provides a list of classes/subclasses where the suggested patents are classified.

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.

May be searched simultaneously in a single search query with EPO Abstracts and JPO Abstracts in EAST/WEST.

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.

EPO patent documents in a USPC or an IPC classification are viewed for relevance to the patent application being searched. Includes a classified search in EAST or WEST. May be searched simultaneously in a single search query with JPO Abstracts and World Patents Index in EAST/WEST.

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.

Provides PDF images for the full text of patents from a number of countries. Has text search capabilities in the title and abstract fields as well as retrieval by IPC and ECLA classification numbers. Primarily used for document retrieval when a patent number is known.

FPAS3

Coverage: 1980 - present, Full Text: -

USPTO foreign patent document retrieval system.

This resource is primarily used as a foreign document retrieval system. It can also be used for limited IPC classification and bibliographic searching.

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.

JPO patent documents in a USPC or an IPC classification are viewed for relevance to the patent application being searched. Includes a classified search in EAST or WEST. May be searched simultaneously in a single search query with EPO Abstracts and World Patents Index in EAST/WEST.

JPO Industrial Property Digital Library

NCIPI Coverage: 1976 - present, Full Text: 1976 - present

Japanese patent information.

Has text search capabilities in the title and abstract fields as well as retrieval by FI classifications and F-Terms. Also used for document translations.

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.

1MOBILITY (Global Mobility Bibliographic Database)

STN Coverage: 1906 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Bibliographic database from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) contains information on worldwide literature of technologies for self-propelled vehicles.

2MOBILITY (Global Mobility Standards Database)

STN Coverage: 1936 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Bibliographic database from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) contains information on worldwide literature of technologies for self-propelled vehicles.

Contains standards and specifications in the area of mobility engineering. Scientific and technical information is available for land, sea, air, and space vehicles.

ALUMINIUM (ALUMINIUM Industry Abstracts (AIA))

STN Coverage: 1968 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Coverage of the world's technical literature on aluminum, ranging from ore processing through applications.

CERAB (Ceramic Abstracts/World Ceramics Abstracts)

STN Coverage: 1975 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Covers the scientific, engineering, and commercial literature on all aspects of ceramics and related materials.

Dialog Global Reporter

Dialog Coverage: 1997 - present, Full Text: 1997 - present

Global news source.

Covers newspapers, business magazines, and newswires from all regions of the world, including emerging markets. This resource may be useful for cases were the invention is likely to be used overseas.

EMA (Engineered Materials Abstracts)

STN Coverage: 1986 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Bibliographic database covering the worldwide literature on the development, processing, and production of ceramic, composite, and polymeric materials.

This resource may be useful for cases where a material is claimed.

FLUIDEX (Fluid Engineering Abstracts)

Dialog Coverage: 1972 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Bibliographic database of the global literature in the use, control, and management of fluids for engineering applications.

Gale Group New Product Announcements/Plus (NPA/Plus)

Dialog Coverage: 1985 - present, Full Text: 1985 - present

Full text press releases from all industries covering announcements related to products, with a focus on new products and services.

This resource may be useful for cases where the invention is similar to something likely to be covered by the popular press.

JICST-EPlus - Japanese Science & Technology

Dialog Coverage: 1985 - present, Full Text: - N/A

STN Coverage: 1985 - present, Full Text: - N/A

English citations and abstracts covering the literature published in Japan on all fields of science, technology, and medicine.

Index to Japanese scientific and technical journals, conferences, and reports, with English citations and abstracts.

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. These materials are mainly used as background material or to show that something is commonly known in the art.

McGraw-Hill Companies Publications Online

Dialog Coverage: 1985 - present, Full Text: 1985 - present

Provides the complete text for many major McGraw-Hill publications.

The database covers specific industries, i.e., automotive, electronics, and construction.

NTIS: National Technical Information Service

Dialog Coverage: 1964 - present, Full Text: - N/A

STN Coverage: 1964 - present, Full Text: - N/A

U.S. government-sponsored research, development, and engineering reports.

PASCAL

Dialog Coverage: 1973 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Questel Orbit Coverage: 1967 - present, Full Text: - N/A

STN Coverage: 1977 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Multidisplinary, multilingual bibliographic database covering the major international literature in science, technology, and medicine.

Produced by the French National Research Council. Index to scientific and technical literature. Each citation includes the original title and usually French- and English-translated titles and indexing terms. Most abstracts are in French.

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.

TRIBO (TRIBOlogy Index)

STN Coverage: 1972 - 2004, Full Text: - N/A

Bibliographic database covering the worldwide literature on tribology, i.e., on fundamentals and applications of friction, wear and lubrication.

xreferplus

xrefer Coverage: - , Full Text: Dates - vary

Online reference collection from over 50 publishers.

Provides access to a large number of technical and general dictionaries and thesauri.

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 search engine is used to find definitions when the art is simple.

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.