BORING OR PENETRATING THE EARTH

Classification 175/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.

Text searching is done initially. Searches are modified with class/subclass searching as needed to refine results. Searching in class 173 and 408 is also helpful for finding relevant prior art. Forward and backward citation searching has proven 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.

Text searching is done initially. Searches are modified with class/subclass searching as needed to refine results. Searching in class 173 and 408 is also helpful for finding relevant prior art.

PALM (Patent Application Locating and Monitoring)

USPTO Coverage: - Current, Full Text: - Current

Pending patent applications, recent patents, and abandoned files.

The Patent Application Locating and Monitoring (PALM) system is a large database system that maintains records for each patent application. PALM is designed to provide on-line access to information on all pending applications, as well as most recently patented and abandoned files. Useful for inventor name searches.

PGPUBS

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

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

U.S. published applications.

Text searching is done initially. Searches are modified with class/subclass searching as needed to refine results. Searching in class 173 and 408 is also helpful for finding relevant prior art.

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.

Text searching is done initially. Searches are modified with class/subclass searching as needed to refine results.

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.

Text searching is done initially. Searches are modified with class/subclass searching as needed to refine results.

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.

Text searching is done initially. Searches are modified with class/subclass searching as needed to refine results.

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.

GeoArchive

Dialog Coverage: 1974 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Provides international coverage of over 5,000 serials, books from over 2,000 publishers, geological maps, and doctoral dissertations.

Covers all types of information sources in geoscience, hydroscience, and environmental science.

GEOBASETM

Dialog Coverage: 1980 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Worldwide research literature in physical and human geography, earth sciences, and related disciplines.

GeoRef

Dialog Coverage: 1785 - present, Full Text: - N/A

STN Coverage: 1785 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Covers worldwide technical literature on geology and geophysics.

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. Used for text searching.

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. Used as a reference tool, in particular for finding units of measurement.

Oil & Gas Journal

ProQuest Coverage: 1991 - present, Full Text: 1991 - present

STIC online catalog Coverage: - , Full Text: -

Petroleum industry publication.

Contains international petroleum news, analysis of issues and events, and practical technology for design, operation and maintenance. This journal may provide relevant information.

TULSATM (PETROLEUM ABSTRACTS)

Dialog Coverage: 1965 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Questel Orbit Coverage: 1965 - present, Full Text: - N/A

STN Coverage: 1965 - present, Full Text: - N/A

Bibliographic references to scientific articles, patents, meeting papers and government reports of interest to those in the oil and gas exploration and production industry.

Used for text and inventor name searching.

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.

Used for text searching.

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.