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Engineering Library

Class Searching: Searching CASSIS by Classification

After you have identified your patent classification and subclassification numbers, you may use the CASSIS Bibliographic Information File to determine which U.S. Patents have been issued with in that classification since 1969. If you are searching for an invention that could have been invented earlier than 1969, you will need to search your class and subclass numbers again, in the Classification Information Files database.

A Warning Against Keyword Searching

The CASSIS Bibliographic Information Files allows you to search for patents by keywords that appears in the patent title or abstract. With few exceptions, we recommend against keyword searches. Abstracts only appear for the most recent 2 to 3 years of the database, and patent titles often are often undescriptive.

Here are informal descriptions of four recent patents, along with a typical keyword search that might be used by an inventor working on similar devices.

A refrigerator that fits under the dashboard of a car.
Likely keyword search: (car or automobile) and dashboard and refrigerator
A method for treating senile dogs.
Likely keyword search: (dogs or pets) and (senile or senility)
Quick-drying nail polish.
Likely keyword search: nail and polish and (quick or fast)
An electronic harmonica that can connect to a synthesizer.
Likely keyword search: electronic and harmonica and synthesizer

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Step 1: Starting the Bibliographic Information Files Database

On the CASSIS Terminal:
Check the screen to see if Cassis Workstation appears at the top. If it doesn't click "HOME" if available or press the F10 key then Enter (Proceed) to reach the menu.

From the Main menu select Patents, then Patents BIB. Then click to start the Bibliographic Information File. When the title screen comes up press any key to continue.

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Step 2: Enter Your Search

Once you have opened the database, use the arrow keys to highlight the classification line. Type your classification and subclassification on the line as shown here (with a slash mark between the numbers) and then press the Enter key:

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The total number of patents in the database which match your search will appear in the right-hand column. This search, for example, resulted in 74 patents.


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Step 3: List Your Search Results

Press the F3 key at the top of the keyboard to DISPLAY the list of these patents; this list will provide the patent number and title for each patent found:

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Once the first screen of the patent title list appears, you may move up and down through the list with the keyboard's arrow keys, or with the Page Up and Page Down keys.


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Step 4: Examine Database Records for Individual Patents

With the red indicator bar highlighting the database record you are interested in, press the F2 key at the top of the keyboard. This will display the complete record for that patent.

Only the most recent 2 - 3 years of records contain summaries of patents.

The default display setting is the "Brief Record". To see the "Full Display" press the SPACE bar. The SPACE bar is a toggle between the brief and full displays.

Brief Record:
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Full Record:
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Information about printing and downloading search results.
Searching for patents prior to 1969.
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Send them to the Engineering Library: englib@u.washington.edu
Last modified: Thursday September 23, 2004