How to read USPTO patents?

A USPTO patent document is generally with several sections including:

  • abstract
  • title
  • technical field
  • prior art
  • summary
  • description of drawings
  • detailed description
  • claims
  • drawing

However, the  sections are arranged in a sequence which is quite different from the sequence it is read. 

Patent professionals read patents, in general, with different sectional sequence according to different situations including :

  • a citation patent reading,
  • a prior art searched patent reading,
  • an infringement patent reading,
  • a case study patent reading, and so on

US Patent Reading Styles

For example, for a citation patent reading of a USPTO patent where the patent to be read is a cited prior art used for rejecting the patent reader’s patent, the patent reader prefers to read a patent in a sequence of :

  • Title
  • Technical field
  • The paragraph(s) cited by the examiner including the paragraph(s) in the specification or the portion in the claim
  • The detailed description
  • Claims
  • Prior arts
  • Repeating (3), (4) and (5)

while in each above step, the reference of drawings is always required.

In a situation that searched prior art US patents are to be read where a brief read is required because there are a large amount of patents needed to be read, the patent reader may prefer the patent reading sequence of :

  • Drawings
  • Claims
  • Title
  • Technical field
  • The detailed description if necessary
  • Repeating (1) and (2)

In a situation for infringement US patent reading where the infringement related patents including the infringing patent(s) or infringed patent should be read in detail, the patent reader may prefer the reading sequence such as :

  • Title
  • Technical field
  • Prior arts
  • Summary
  • Claims and drawings
  • The detailed description
  • Repeating (5) and (6)

Lastly, for a reading situation for learning US patent drafting or studying US patent drafting styles of other patent attorneys, the patent reader may prefer the reading sequence of:

  • Technical field
  • Claims and drawings
  • Summary
  • Prior arts
  • The detailed description
  • Repeating (2)

How about your style

Of course, the above is for your reference to read US patents from USPTO.  You have your own patent reading preference.  The key to estimate how a US patent reading sequence is better than others is that a US patent reading sequence could help a patent reader to understand a patent quicker, more accurately and more comfortably as well.