Strategic Patenting
Preface
Chapter 1 - Importance Of Patenting Cost-Effectively
Chapter 2 - Considerations Before The Drafting Begins
Chapter 3 - General Guidelines For Drafting Patent Applications
Chapter 4 - Basic Claiming
Chapter 5 - Claiming Strategies
Chapter 6 - Claiming Tutorial
Chapter 7 - Basic Specification Drafting
Chapter 8 - Advanced Specification Drafting
Chapter 9 - Filing Strategies
Chapter 10 - PCT And Foreign Patent Practice & Procedure
Chapter 11 - Responding To Office Actions
Chaper 12 - Valuing Patents
Chapter 13 - Infringement Of Another's Patent
Chapter 14 - Office Procedures
Appendices
Chapter 5 - Claiming Strategies
Page 46 of 49
 

Mapping The Competitive Landscape

The mapping step is straightforward. One merely reviews recent patents and published applications for each the top ten or fifteen players in the field, and prepares a table that includes a very short (5-10 word) summary of each matter. In the field of ink cartridges, for example, during the first 10 months of 2005, Brother™ has at least 17 patents and applications, Canon™ has at least 6, and Hewlett-Packard™ has at least 17. A table summarizing a sampling of those patents and applications is set forth below:

Competitor Patent / Appl. Number Issue/Publ . Date Subject Matter
Brother 2005/0025521 2005/02/03 Cartridge guiding grooves
Brother 2005/0031359 20050210 Cartridge detection gear
Brother 2005/0068369 20050331 Colored ink cartridges with differential insertion positions
Canon 6866374 20050315 Absorber for waste ink
Canon 6915094 2005070 Unit for rotatably holding developing-agent-containing cartridges
Canon 2005/0163532 20050728 Unit for rotatably holding developing-agent-containing cartridges
Canon 6924905 20050802 Interchangeable printer and reader cartridges
Hewlett-Packard 2005/0030336 20050210 Cap and actuator mechanism for interfacing with nozzle
Hewlett-Packard 6840603 20050111 Inkjet cartridge re-filler station having particular fluidic connections
Hewlett-Packard 6879790 20050412 Guide assembly for handling different types of cartridges
Hewlett-Packard 2005/0078997 20050414 Latch mechanism for docking a cartridge
Hewlett-Packard 6942328 20051913 Keying features by which a cartridge mates with a printer

Figure 58 — Competitor Patent Table


Page 46 of 49
 
 

Fish & Associates, PC

2603 Main Street, Suite 1000 · Irvine, CA 92614-4271
Phone: (949) 943-8300 · Fax: (949) 943-8358
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Search | Disclaimers | Gallery of Patents | Strategic Patenting | Site Map