Creating a Search (Using QBF:  Query by Form)

PatentWatcher™ enables you to search the patents and published applications databases of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office web server.  It enables you to create searches easily by filling in a query form.  The form supplies database field names for you.  It shields you from the details of the server's query language while still delivering its power to you.

Instead of typing queries like this:

ttl/tennis and abst/racquet or racket and aclm/string or cord or line and spec/nylon or gut or wire or "composite material" and isd/04-08-2003->04-29-2003

you can fill in blanks on the query form like this:

For each patent database field (e.g., Title, Abstract, Claims), you can get context sensitive help by clicking the field name on the form.  For example, clicking Assignee will display help about the Assignee field and how to form queries for names in that field.  The form also is programmed to help format dates as required by the database server and to prevent entry of invalid date expressions.

You can get help generally applicable to most of the fields on how to form expressions by clicking How to Form Expressions in the upper right corner of the Query by Form dialog.

The Query by Form dialog shows the command mode search statement that is implied by the way you have filled in the form.  It displays the implied search statement in the white label at the bottom of the dialog.