What is US4255431, and how is it related to omeprazole?
US4255431 is a U.S. patent record that appears in Google Patents when you search for “omeprazole” and/or “US4255431.” However, the specific relationship to omeprazole (for example, whether it claims omeprazole itself, a precursor, a manufacturing method, or a formulation) depends on what the patent’s title and claims say. The Google Patents page typically shows this information under the document’s title, abstract, and claim set.
How can I find the exact Google Patents entry for “US4255431”?
On Google Patents, the fastest approach is to search the patent number exactly as:
- US4255431
Then open the single matching result and check:
- Title (to confirm what the invention covers)
- Abstract (to see the main technical idea)
- Claims (to understand what is legally protected)
- Assignee/Applicant (to identify the owner)
If you share the Google Patents link (or the title/abstract text), I can interpret what it covers in plain language.
What should I look at on the patent page for scope and strength?
For practical reasons (freedom-to-operate, infringement risk, or research context), the most important parts are:
- Independent claims (the core protected elements)
- Claim dependencies (how broadly each claim is limited)
- Any method vs. product claims (omeprazole compounds vs. processes)
- Expiration/lawsuit history indicators (if shown on the page)
When would a patent like this expire?
A patent’s effective life depends on the filing date, whether it includes continuation/divisional practice, and any term adjustments. Google Patents usually lists an “Expiration” estimate or “Status.” Checking that field on the specific US4255431 entry is the only reliable way to give a date.
Why do people search this patent number with omeprazole?
People often connect a specific U.S. patent number to omeprazole when:
- It covers an ingredient or intermediate used to make omeprazole
- It claims a key process step or formulation
- It is cited by later patents or by generic entry documents
- It is part of a broader patent family tied to the original discovery
The exact reason for US4255431 can only be confirmed by the patent’s title/claims.
If you want, I can summarize the patent content
Paste either:
1) the Google Patents URL for “US4255431,” or
2) the title + abstract + at least the first independent claim,
and I’ll summarize what it claims and how it relates (or doesn’t) to omeprazole.