MaxVal is glad to roll out its next version of the Patent Family Tree tool.

Generally speaking, a patent family is a group of patents which, like the members of a family, are all related to each other, in this case by way of the priority or priorities of a particular patent document.

This is an online free tool which is used to generate patent family trees for given patents. Given a patent #, application # or publication #, this tool will generate a graphical tree representation of the family based on Genealogy and Timeline.

Patent Family Tree

MaxVal uses INPADOC's extended family system to retrieve not just the equivalents but all related patent applications for the same priority irrespective of the complexity.

Given one patent number in a family, this tool identifies all the related applications and maps them along the timeline. This mapping also includes abandoned and unpublished applications that are identified from the priority details.

The intelligence built in the tool not only automatically color codes the countries but also connect the related patents based on the priority details.

Each node is populated with the bibliographic details extracted from public domain. Clicking on the patent will display the bibliographic details along with the current legal status (INPADOC).

The inclusion of legal status information in this also sometimes retrieves additional links, e.g. for divisional applications, continuations, continuations in part or national publications of first filings of PCT (international) applications, where the priority links are often missing.

Please feel free to use the tool and let us know your feedback/comments, so that we can make this tool even better.

URL: http://www.maxval-ip.com/patent-tools-patent-family-tree.html