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About Private Line

Private Line covers what has occurred, is occurring, and will ocurr in telecommunications. Since communication technology constantly changes, you can expect new content posted regularly.

Consider this site an authoritative resource. Its moderators have successful careers in the telecommunications industry. Utilize the content and send comments. As a site about communicating, conversation is encouraged.

Writers

Thomas Farely

Tom has produced privateline.com since 1995. He is now a freelance technology writer who contributes regularly to the site.

His knowledge of telecommunications has served, most notably, the American Heritage Invention and Technology Magazine and The History Channel.
His interview on Alexander Graham Bell will air on the History Channel the end of 2006.

Ken Schmidt

Ken is a licensed attorney who has worked in the tower industry for seven years. He has managed the development of broadcast towers nationwide and developed and built cell towers.

He has been quoted in newspapers and magazines on issues regarding cell towers and has spoke at industry and non-industry conferences on cell tower related issues.

He is recognized as an expert on cell tower leases and due diligence processes for tower acquisitions.

« Telecom images | | Busy, busy, busy »

December 01, 2003

Posted by Tom Farley & Mark van der Hoek at 02:37 AM

Browse Design Patents

Welcome back. Hope you had a good weekend. In Northern California we had some rain and snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Kind of gloomy and dark. Indoor days. Didn't do any hiking but I will on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Here's a good way to browse design patents. Put in what you want to look for and then add the important phrase: ornamental design. Select the quick search option at the patent office:

http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/search-bool.html (external link),

and you'll see this form:

Put in what you are looking for, even if it is garbage disposals, the words ornamental design, and then your date range. Only patents from 1976 on can be searched this way. The patents before then haven't yet been made keyword searchable. Try as many different keywords as you can. For public telephones try COCOT, payphone, paystation, and so on. It's great fun looking but it will take the tools I describe below and much time. Save this task for when you do have time to fool around. Like at work.

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