Patent Task§ JOURNAL · Tutorial
Patent Search Basics: Keywords, Classification and an Auditable Record
Start with the decision your search must support. Finding earlier public technical disclosures is different from assessing whether a product can be used in a particular market. The latter also needs jurisdiction-specific claims and legal status, not merely a list of similar titles.
Build concept groups
Use this synthetic example: a device that holds a cylindrical workpiece with a movable jaw. It has not been searched or assessed for patentability.
| Concept | Candidate terms |
|---|---|
| Object | workpiece, cylindrical part, tube |
| Action | clamp, grip, position |
| Structure | movable jaw, guide slot, V-groove |
Start with an object and an action. Read relevant results before adding narrower structural terms. Requiring every word from the outset can miss documents using different terminology.
Use classification to expand the search
Extract IPC or CPC codes from confirmed relevant documents and read their definitions before expanding the search. A similar class name does not establish comprehensive coverage.
Boolean operators, phrase matching and field codes vary by platform. The concept table is not universal search syntax. Save the exact query and filters actually executed.
Inspect the evidence
For each useful result, record its publication identifier and date, relevant claims, description passages and drawings. Inspect filing and priority information in relation to your research question. Family members may require separate reading because claims and status can differ.
Record the update date of legal-status information, and check the responsible office's records for consequential conclusions. An expired patent document can still be useful prior art. Chinese Patent Law Article 22 is one primary source for the Chinese prior-art framework.
Make the work reproducible
Keep the search date, database, query, filters, document identifiers, relevant passages, inclusion decisions and remaining language or coverage limits. Use abstracts for screening, then return to the original text.
Use the downloadable patent search log template to keep one record per query and document. It includes fields for partial results, translations, source passages and unsearched coverage, so a colleague can see what was checked and what still needs attention.
Choose the source for the question you need to answer: our global patent-office search guide separates official publication search, application status and data services for USPTO, CNIPA, JPO, EPO and WIPO. The USPTO tool guide explains Patent Public Search, Patent Center and ODP in more detail.
The Patent Task search page is a starting point for keywords or technical descriptions. AI-generated synonyms and relevance explanations are leads to investigate, not verified findings.
Does an empty result list prove that no similar technology exists?
No. Terminology, language, publication timing and database coverage can all hide relevant material. Try alternative concept combinations and follow useful classifications. The global patent-office search guide lists the official sources for document and status checks.