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Foundations of Technology
Nature of Technology: Relationships Among Technologies
practice

Project: Patent Search

Problem: You have designed a few innovative items in this course. Now you must see if you have designed an item that could be issued a United States Patent. You are going to determine if on of your designs is too similar to existing designs registered in the U.S. Patent Office or if your design has a unique feature, function, or purpose that would earn it a U.S. Patent.


Watch the following video on how to conduct a patent search. Be sure to turn the volume on yourlight bulb computer up to hear the narration on the video.
vid Video: Conducting a Patent Search

Video transcript doc (Word doc) or rtf (rtf)

 

Criteria and Constraints:

  • You should spend 20-30 minutes searching for items similar to your invention or innovation.
  • Try multiple search terms and combinations of terms to find ANYTHING that could be related to your design
  • Record your terms and what you find on the doc Patent Tracker Sheet. (Word doc) or rtf Patent Tracker Sheet (rtf)

Background Information: Using the US Patent Office Web Site patent search page found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html search for similar patented products.

  • Select an innovation or invention that you designed in this course or design a new one.
  • Use the quick search tool to enter up to two keywords to use.
    • To avoid returning hundred hits on your search try to use specific keywords, i.e. use "High Definition" & "Television" instead of "Television."
    • HINT: Search the Title first. It will usually give you the most reliable results.
  • Click on the title of various patents to see if they may be similar to your innovation.
    • Read the "abstract," which is a short description of the patent. It will give you a good idea about what is patented and if it is similar to your item.
    • Many patents contain images or schematic drawings. Click the IMAGES link to view images of that patents.
    • Be sure to give enough time for the large images to download. Sometimes it helps to click forward and backward to get the image to show.
  • Record the patent number(s), descriptions and claims of the items returned by your search on the doc Patent Tracker Worksheet (Word doc) or rtf Patent Tracker Worksheet. (rtf)

In the subject field you will type one of the following subject headers.

  • Type "New Patent Application" if you feel your item could be issued a U.S. patent.
    • Attach your Patent Tracker Worksheet with the results of your searching and the completed patent "application."
    • In the body of the message, explain to the class why your item is good enough for a U.S. patent.
  • Type "Need Help with My Design" if you found patented items that are too similar to your item and it could not be issued a U.S. patent.
    • Attach your Patent Tracker Worksheet with the results of your searching.
    • Brainstorm a list of ways you could improve your item to perhaps be issued a U.S. patent

Project Guidelines: Patent Search (20 points)

After completing your search, you will present your findings on the discussion board. Depending on whether or not your design would qualify for a new patent title you initial post as directed. Attach your patent tracker worksheet to your initial post.

If your design is unique enough to be patented, the student will:

  • Complete the search section of the patent tracker worksheet. (5 points)
  • Complete the application section of the patent tracker worksheet. (5 points)
  • Title you initial post "New Patent Application". Attach your patent tracker worksheet and in the body of your post, describe what makes your design different from those already patented. (5 points)

If your design conflicts with another that is already patented, the student will:

  • Complete ONLY the search section of the patent tracker worksheet. (5 points)
  • Title your initial post "Need help with my design". Attach your patent tracker worksheet and in the body of your post describe your design and the similar ones that have already been patented. (5 points)
  • After receiving feedback from your classmates, revise your design and complete the application section of the patent tracker worksheet. (5 points)

Each student will, reply to at least two other students who need help revising their design. Review their design description and the conflicting designs. Make a suggestion on how they can change their design to make it different from the objects that have already been patented. (5 points)

Submit your initial post and both reply posts to the Patent Search Discussion Board before the due date listed on the course calendar.

 

  
 
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