| General
Information |
Glossaries, Classification Codes & More |
Introduction
to Understanding Patents - University of Michigan,
Media Union Library
~ Definition of “patent”
~ Three Categories: Utility, Plant, Design
~ Three Criteria: Usefulness, Novelty, Non-obviousness
~ Getting your patent
~ International Patent Protection
General Information on Patents - Stanford
University Libraries
~ Information on Patents
~ Patent Classification Codes
~ History of Patents
~ Future Plans
~ Famous Inventions & Patents
General Information
about Patents - Oppedahl & Larson
LLP. ~ General
~ Provisional patent applications
~ Getting patents in foreign countries
~ Resources for patent searches
~ Comparing patents with other forms of intellectual property
~ Things to be careful about
~ Miscellaneous
Patent Searching on the Web - Philip
Boxell, Franklin Pierce Law Center ~ Patent
Searching Sites on the Web
~ Patent Database Producer & Vendor Home Pages
~ Patent Searching Pages & Tutorials on the Web
~ Directories of Patent Searchers & Attorneys
~ Patent Searching Professional Organization Home Pages
~ Patent Listservs, Newsgroups & E-mail
Newsletters ~ Global Patent Offices
~ Other International Offices or Similar Authorities
~ Sources of Foreign Patents on the Web
~ Patent Trademark Depository Libraries on the Web - USA (by State)
& Worldwide
Glossary of Patent Terms - Derwent
Information - Thompson Scientific
IPO
International Patent Classification
US Patent
Classification
Index
to Manual of Classification of Patents - ibiblio.org -
University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill ~ Search
by keywords as opposed to classification code/number.
~ Alphabetical listing provided.
Patent Information
Bibliography - Patent Information Users Group
~ Books & journal articles
| Types of Patents |
Descriptions of Utility, Design & Plant
Patents |
UTILITY PATENT
"are granted for new, useful, & nonobvious processes, machines,
manufactured articles, compositions, or improvements in any of the
above. Examples of utility patents range from the well-known
artificial heart valve (#4,490,859) to the microwave clothes dryer
(#4,490,923)". (Levy, Richard. Inventing & Patenting
Sourcebook, Detroit: Gale Research Inc, p.6)
DESIGN PATENT "are available for the
invention of new, original, & ornamental designs for articles
of manufacture. A design patent only protects the appearance of an
article & not its structure or utilitarian features. Examples
of design patents range from the ordinary combined toothbrush
holder/tumbler (#278,586) to a seaweed plate garnish for a sushi
dish (#278,565)". (Levy, Richard. Inventing & Patenting
Sourcebook, Detroit: Gale Research Inc, p.6)
PLANT PATENT
"are provided to anyone who has invented or discovered &
asexually reproduced any distinct & new variety of plant,
including cultivated sports, mutants, hybrids, & newly found
seedlings, other than a tuber-propagated plant or a plant found in
an uncultivated state. Examples of plant patents include a new
& distinct cultivator of African violet (#5,383), a variety of
almond tree (#5,382), & a chrysanthemum plant named Organdy
(#5,278)". (Levy, Richard. Inventing & Patenting
Sourcebook, Detroit: Gale Research Inc, p.67).
- Plant
Patents - US Patent & Trademark
Office
- PlantPatent.com
- Vincent Gioia
- The First Plant Patents - Robert Starr Allyn, Brooklyn,
Educational Foundations, Inc., c1934.
~ Available at the John Crerar Library, University of Chicago,
microfilm SB123.5.A565.
| Lifetime of a Patent |
How Long
are they Good For? |
UNITED STATES
"In the U.S., according to the current
patent law, the pattm grants utility patents that last for 20
years; & plant patents & design patents that last for 14
years". (" Introduction
to Understanding Patents" University of Michigan, Media Union
Library [Accessed August 30, 2006] )
EUROPE "A European patent gives its
holder the same rights in the designated contracting states as a
national patent. It is valid for 20 years". ("Facts & figures
1999" EPO <
www.european-patent-office.org/epo/facts_figures/facts1999/e/3.htm>
[Accessed October 5, 2000])
JAPAN "The term of the utility model
right is 6 years from the filing date of the utility model
application, though a utility model right shall come into force
upon registration of its establishment. No renewal of the utility
model right is possible. The term of a design right shall expire 15
years from the date of registration of its establishment. No
renewal of the design right is possible. The term of the patent
right is 20 years from the filing date of the patent application,
though a patent right shall come into force upon registration of
its establishment. No renewal of the patent right is possible. As
an exception, the term of the patent right may be extended by a
period not exceeding 5 years, if it was not possible to work the
patented invention because of the necessity of obtaining an
approval or other disposition which is governed by provisions in
laws such as the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law & the Agricultural
Chemicals Regulation Law". ("Frequently Asked Questions" Japanese
Patent Office <http://www.jpo.go.jp/index.htm>[Accessed
October 5, 2000])
UNITED KINGDOM "In the UK the legal
rights last for a maximum term of 20 years from the date of filing
of the patent application at the Patent Office. The patent has to
be maintained by payment of renewal fees. Once the 20 year term has
expired or the patent has lapsed through non-payment of renewal
fees, the invention can be worked by anyone as long as there are no
other intellectual property rights associated with the invention".
("FAQ - How long does a patent last?" The British Library Science
Technology & Business < http://www.bl.uk/collections/patents/faq.html>
[Accessed October 20, 2000])
CANADA "For patent
applications filed before October 1, 1989, the term of the patent
is 17 years from the date of issue. For patent applications filed
on or after October 1, 1989, the term of the patent is 20 years
from the date of filing of the application". ("Help" Canadian
Patent Database < patents1.ic.gc.ca/content-e.html#patdocument[Accessed
October 23, 2000])
| How To Guides |
Tips on
Searching For Patents |
Patent
Search Tools -University of Delaware Library
Searching for Patents by Subject - University of
Delaware Library
Searching for Patents by Inventor or Assignee -
University of Delaware Library
Patent
& Trademark Searching -McKinney Engineering
Library, University of Texas at Austin
| Patent Databases/Web Sites |
Where to
Look for General Patents |
World Wide |
United States | Canada |
Europe | Japan |
Other
Finding a Full-Text Copy of a Patent: In
Print
WORLDWIDE
Free Access
European Patent
Office (EPO) - European Patent Organisation - (
PDF Example Search)
Worldwide|Free Access|Dates: Vary from 1920+ |
Language: Varies|Size: 150 million+
~ There are several databases that can be searched:
* "EPO &
the World Intellectual Property" database: original
language from 1998+.
* The
"Worldwide patent" database: with an English abstract &
title from 1920+.
* The Japan
database provides access to Japanese patents from
1980+ in English.
~ Search by keyword, patent number or company name.
~ Some full text documents are provided.
~ When viewing: Click on the patent number. You will be shown one
page at a time. You must return to the "information is loading"
screen, then select the next page from the pull down menu.
~ Requires Acrobat Reader to view PDF files.
~ The database can be searched using English, French or
German.
~ EPO produces INPADOC: www.european-patent-office.org/inpadoc/
~ INPADOC is one of the most comprehensive databases where to
perform patent family searches on a worldwide basis. It is
estimated that INPADOC covers some 95% of all patents published
worldwide since 1973. INPADOC is available via commercial hosts
such as Dialog: www.library.dialog.com
IBM Intellectual
Property - Delphion
Worldwide|Free Access|Dates: Vary from 1968+ | English |
Size: Not stated
~ US, European, Japanese, INPADOC Family & Legal Status &
WIPO Patents
~ Description of databases available at: www.patents.ibm.com/collect_descrip
~ Some full text documents are provided for free in PDF
format.
~ You may also purchase print copies of patents from IBM
Intellectual Property.
SciFinder
Scholar - Chemical Abstracts - (PDF
Example Search)
University of Chicago has a subscription | Specifically for
Chemical literature & data
~ SciFinder Scholar may be searched 24 hrs/day by
University of Chicago faculty, staff &
students.
~ It is designed as an academic research tool for searching the
chemical literature & data.
~ The CAplus File includes patents.
~ Downloading instructions & further information/help are
available.
~ Older volumes are available from 1907+ in the Chemistry Library
Reference Collection at QD1.A48.
~ From 1907-1995 is available in the Crerar Library Reference
Collection at QD1.A48.
~ Subscription prices can be found on SciFinder Scholar web site
located at:
www.cas.org/SCIFINDER/SCHOLAR/
WORLDWIDE
Subscription Required
World Patents
Index (WPI) - Derwent Information -
part of Thompson Scientific
Worldwide | Subscription Required | Dates:
Vary from 1963+ | Language: Varies | Size: 10 million
+ ~ WPI combines all of Derwents indexes into one -
this is the complete database.
~ Provides a "Patent Searching" service. Derwent will do your
patent searching for you.
~ A "Patent Watch" service is also provided.
~ Updated weekly.
~ Available on Dialog, DIMDI, ISI, Questel.Orbit, STN &
WESTLAW.
~ Covers 40 patent issuing bodies: Argentina (1975-1976 only),
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East
Germany, Ireland (1963-1969 only), European Patent Office, Finland,
France, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, PCT
Patent Cooperation Treaty or World Patents), People's Republic of
China, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Spain, South
Africa, Soviet Union, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States,
and West Germany.
Questel-Orbit
Worldwide | Subscription Required | Dates: Vary from 1974+
| Language: Varies | Size: 1.8 million+ ~ Registered
users have access to full-text patents. ~
Abstracts are in english. ~ One day trials
available. Trial users are given access to abstracts.
~ Full-page (GIF) images of over 99% of the patents is
available.
~ Orbit/Questel provides access to over 25 patent databases.
PatentMiner - Manning & Napier Information
Services
US, Japan, Europe | Fee-based service| Dates: Vary from
1974+| Language: Varies | Size: 1.8 million+
~ PatentMiner is not available on a subscription
basis. Costs are per search or per 24 hour usage.
~ MAPIT, a PatentMiner product, is available on a
subscription basis.
Patent
Web - MicroPatent
Worldwide | Subscription Required / Pay-Per-Use| Dates:
Vary from 1976+| Language: Varies | Size: Unknown
~ $95.00 a day or $7500 a year.
~ Also can establish a PatentWeb account from
which the cost of services is deducted.
UNITED STATES
US
Patent & Trademark Office - (
PDF Example Search)
US | Free Access | 1790+ | Language:
English | Size: 3 million + ~ Patents from 1790-1975
can only be searched by patent numbers & current US
Classifications.
~ Obtaining patent numbers or current US Classification may
involve a web search. Use a search engine such as Google to find
documentation on a patent. Attempt to find a patent number. This
number can then be used in the US Patent & Trademark database
to retrieve the full-text.
~ 1976+ patents can be searched via various fields such as
inventor, title, issue date & more. ~
Only granted patents are included. Patent applications are not in
this database. ~ Users have two options:
search for full-text or do a quick search just for the first page
of the patent.
~ Requires a TIFF plug-in (AlternaTiff is recommended) which can be
downloaded for free:
~ www.uspto.gov/web/menu/viewers.html
~ Updated weekly.
Agricola
(Agriculture Online Access) - Community of Science
US - Agriculture |University of Chicago
has a subscription | 1979+ | Language: English|
Size: Unclear
~ Excellent database for searching plant patents
in the US. Focuses on issues related to agriculture.
~ Complied by the National Agricultural Library of the US
Department of Agriculture.
~ Searching for patents: Select "advanced" searching. Search for
"patent" in the "source" field.
~ Include your search terms in the other fields. Your results will
only include patents.
~ To find the patent number: look at the record. The patent number
will be located beside the "Plant patent - United States &
Trademark Office" statement. Plant patents will consist of four
digits.
~ For a full-text copy of this patent: go to the US Patent &
Trademark Office. Conduct a search using "Patent Number". You must
type "pp" before the patent number i.e. pp8091.
Catalog of Government Patents - NTIS, US
Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C., 1981-1982
US Government Patents |In Library | Dates:
1966-1980 | Language: English | Print Resource
~ Available at the John Crerar Library, University of Chicago - vol
1-5 - T223.C2C370
~ v. 1. Chemical & related arts, 1966-74
~ v. 2. Electrical & related arts, 1966-74
~ v. 3. General & mechanical, 1966-74 -
~ v. 4. Abstracts 1975-80
~ v. 5. Index 1975-80.
~ Thousands of government-owned patents are listed.
~ Abstracts & illustrations included in most cases.
Catalog of Government Patents - Center for the
Utilization of Federal Technology, National Technical Information
Service, US Department of Commerce, Springfield, Va. : NTIS, US
Dept. of Commerce, 1983-
US Government Patents |In Library|Dates:
1981-1986 | Language: English | Print Resource ~
Available at the John Crerar Library, University of Chicago -
T223.C2C371
~ Thousands of government-owned patents are listed.
~ Abstracts & illustrations included in most cases.
Current Patent Legal Status - IFI CLAIMS Patent
Services US - Legal Status|
Subscription Required| Dates: 1980+| Language: English|
Size: 850,000+
~Available via Dialog: library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bl0123.html~Contains
post-issuance legal status information for US patents.
~Coverage includes: certificates of correction, reassignment,
reexamination requests & certificates, extensions, expirations,
reinstatements, reissue requests, adverse decisions on interference
actions, & disclaimer/ dedication data.
Highlights in Patent Activity, United States.
Patent & Trademark Office, [Washington, DC?] : US Dept. of
Commerce, [1992]
US - General|In Library | Dates: Unclear |
Language: English | Print Resource
~ Available at the Regenstein Library, University of Chicago -
XXKF3096.U56 1992
~ Subjects: US-- statistical data.
United States Patents, 1790-1870: new uses
for old ideas Peter C. Welsh, Washington : Museum of
History & Technology, Smithsonian Institution,
1964 US - General|In
Library | Dates: 1790-1870 | Language: English |
Print Resource ~ Available at the D'Angelo
Law Library, University of Chicago - KB6437.W22U5 1965
~ Subjects: Patents --U.S.--Hist., Inventions --Hist., US
--Hist.--Sources.
CANADA
Canadian
Patent Database - Canadian
Intellectual Property Office
Canada |Free Access | Dates: 1920+ |
Language: English & French | Size: 1.4 million
~ A tutorial on how to use this database is provided: "Guided
Tour".
~ Searching options include: By patent number, inventor, title,
owner, date, abstract & keywords.
~ Requires PDF for viewing patents.
Canadian Patent Office record & register of
copyrights & trade marks - Canada. Patent Office,
Ottawa.
Canada |In Library| Dates 1878-1925 |
Language: English | Print Resource ~ Available
Harper Library storage, University of Chicago - T226.A2 (Scattered
holdings)
~ Monthly, Weekly
~ Subjects: Patents --Canada.
Patscan
- University of British Columbia
Canada |Fee Based Service| Dates: 1981+ |
Language: English & French | Size: 200,000+
~ Fee based patent search & consulting service located in the
University of BC Library.
~ Results can be delivered: FAX, courier, or by e-mail anywhere in
the world in a week.
~ Provide patentability, state of the art, & infringement
searches.
~ Patscan can conduct worldwide searches accessing EPO & USPTO
& other worldwide resources.
~ Can also find new technologies, hybrid innovations, unusual
applications & engineering solutions, covering the areas of
Biotechnology, Chemistry, Mechanics, Electronics, Optics &
Computer technology.
EUROPE
JURINPI - Patent & trademark
jurisprudence Europe -
Jurisprudence | Subscription Required | Dates:
1823+| Language: French| Size: 25,000+ ~ Produced by
Institut National
de la Propriete Industrielle. ~ Available via
Questel-Orbit: www.qpat.com/
~ European legal decisions relating to patents.
~ Updated monthly.
~ Also contact the Institut National de la Propriete Industrielle
for information about access.
Patent
Information Services - The British Library Science
Technology & Business (STB)
UK| Fee-Based Service | Dates: Varies |
Language: English | Size: 44 million+
~ The British Library STB holds the United Kingdom's national
patent library.
British Patents of Invention, 1617-1977: a guide for
researchers Stephen Van Dulken, London: British
Library, 1999.
UK | In Library | Dates: 1617-1977 |
Language: English | Print Resource
~ Available at the John Crerar Library, University of Chicago - T
257 B2 V36
~ Subjects: Patent laws & legislation - Great Britain, Patents
- Great Britain.
Inventions & official secrecy : a history of secret
patents in the United Kingdom T.H. O'Dell, Oxford :
Clarendon Press, 1994.
UK |In Library| Dates: Unclear | Language: English
| Print Resource ~ Available at
the Regenstein Library, University of Chicago - XXKD1371.O340
1994
~ Subjects: Patents --Great Britain--History, Official secrets
--Great Britain--History.
~ Includes the Secret Patents Act of 1859 & The Secrets of Two
Technical Revolutions.
The patent system & inventive activity during the
Industrial Revolution, 1750-1852
H.I. Dutton, Manchester [Greater Manchester] ; Dover, N.H. :
Manchester University Press, c1984.
UK |In Library | Dates: 1750-1852 |
Language: English | Print Resource
~ Available at the John Crerar Library, University of Chicago -
T257.P2D870 1984
~ Subjects: Patents --Great Britain--History, Inventions --Great
Britain--History.
DPMApatentblatt
- Bundesdruckerei & the German Patent & Trademark Office
Germany | Fee-Based Service or Guest
Login| Dates: 1997+ | Language: German | Size: Not
Stated ~ This is the official German patent bulletin
on the Internet.
~ Patent information is updated weekly.
~ Guest login available.
~ Web site is in German & English
French
Patent Office - Institut National de la Propriete
Industrielle Worldwide |
Free Access| Dates: Unclear | Language: Varies, Interface
in French only| Size: 30 million+ ~ Web
site is in French only.
~ Linked with the European
Patent Office.
Dictionnaire des brevets groupant en 3000
catégories tous les brevets délivrés en Belgique de
1830 à 1907 Jacques Gevers & cie .. Anvers, Impr.
Laporte & Dosse, 1907
Belgium| In Library | 1830-1907| Language:
Unclear | Print Resource
~ Available at the John Crerar Library, University of Chicago -
608.493 Q700, 1830-1907
~ Subjects: Patents --Belgium.
Japan Patent
Information Organization (page written in
Japanese)
Japan|Fee-based Service | Abstracts
1971+, Full-Text 1993+| Language: Japanese, PATOLIS-e abstracts in
English | Size: 90 million+ ~ Web site is in
Japanese.
~ This service provides abstracts only, however, full-text of
unexamined patent publications (in Japanese. KOKAI) from1993 &
registered patent (in Japanese. TOROKU) from 1996 are displayed.
~ Dialog
service access to JAPIO database information
Chinese Patent Abstracts in English - People's
Republic of China & INPADOC (European Patent
Office) China|Fee-based
Access | Format: Database/Web| 1985+| Language: English | Size:
130,000 + ~ Available via the EPO "Worldwide"
database: (see above)
~ Access also provided by Dialog: library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bl0344.html
~ Patentable technologies in the People's Republic of China are
included.
~ Records contain the bibliographic information as well as
English-language titles & abstracts.
~ Updated biweekly.
~ Or via the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's
Republic of China (SIPO) site: www.cpo.cn.net/
Complete Listing Not every list is complete,
therefore if you do not find the country or organization you are
looking for, try more than one list.
Patent
Offices around the World - Chan Roberts Law
Firm
List of "at cost" Patents Providers -
Yahoo!
Patent
Searching on the Web - Philip Boxell,
Franklin Pierce Law Center
~"Patent Searching Sites on the Web" & "Patent Database
Producer & Vendor Home Pages".
~ Includes foreign searching agencies.
| Subject Specific Patent Databases/Web
Sites |
ie.
Agriculture |
Agriculture | Biotechnology | Chemistry | Drugs | Petroleum Processing & the Petrochemical
Industries |
Physics, Electronics & Computing
Agriculture
Agricola
(Agriculture Online Access) - Community of Science
US - Agriculture |University of Chicago
has a subscription | 1979+ | Language: English|
Size: Unclear
~ This is an excellent database for searching
plant patents in the US.
~ Complied by the National Agricultural Library of the US
Department of Agriculture.
~ Searching patents: Select "advanced" searching. Search for
"patent" in the "source" field. Include your search terms in the
other fields. Your results will only include patents.
~ To find the patent number: look at the record. The patent number
will be located beside the "Plant patent - United States &
Trademark Office" statement. Plant patents will consist of four
digits.
~ For a full-text copy of this patent: go to the US Patent &
Trademark Office. Conduct a search using "Patent Number". You must
type "PP" before the patent number i.e. pp8091.
Biotechnology
GENESEQ - Derwent /
IntelliGenetics Europe, US,
Japan | Subscription Required | Dates: 1981+|
Language: Varies | Size: 10,000+
~ Dedicated to the collection & annotation of genetic sequences
from worldwide patents.
~ Best for those interested in biotechnology.
~ Available via Intelligenetics: www.nell.com/data/00500/htm/nr00049.htm.
~ Also available via Derwent: www.derwent.com/geneseq/geneseqbrochure/
~ Contains over I 10,000 DNA & protein sequences extracted from
the original patent documents, both claims & disclosures,
Intelligenetics claims that over half of the sequence entries in
GENESEQ are not available in any of the public sequence
databases.
~ Updated every two weeks.
Chemistry
SciFinder
Scholar - Chemical Abstracts
University of Chicago has a subscription | Specifically for
Chemical literature & data
~ SciFinder Scholar may be searched 24 hrs/day by University of
Chicago faculty, staff & students.
~ It is designed as an academic research tool for searching the
chemical literature & data.
~ The CAplus File includes patents.
~ Downloading instructions & further information/help are
available.
~ Older volumes are available from 1907+ in the Chemistry Library
Reference Collection at QD1.A48.
~ From 1907-1995 is available in the Crerar Library Reference
Collection at QD1.A48.
~ Subscription prices can be found on SciFinder Scholar web site
located at:
www.cas.org/SCIFINDER/SCHOLAR/
Drugs (Newly Patented)
Patent
Fast-Alert - Current Drugs Ltd .
Europe, US, Japan | Subscription Required
- Free trail available| Dates: Unclear| Language: Unclear| Size:
Unclear
~ Free sample & trail is available.
~ Coverage: novel compounds claimed for a therapeutic use, or new
indications for known compounds, novel processes for preparation of
therapeutically useful compounds or their intermediates,
biotechnology patents covering new molecular cell biology methods
& discoveries, formulation patents for specifically named
drugs.
~ Weekly therapeutic patent monitoring service for researchers
& R groups.
~ Covers the EPO, United States Patent & Trademark Office,
British Patents, Japanese Patents.
Petroleum Processing & the Petrochemical
Industries
American Petroleum Institute Patent Abstracts
(APIPAT) - American Petroleum Institute, API
Encompass Worldwide |
Subscription Required| Dates: 1964+| Language:
Unclear| Size: 308,000+
~ APIPAT is only accessible to organizations which subscribe to
API Encompass
~ APIPAT can be accessed via Dialog: library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bl0353.html.
~ For information contact: info@apiencompass.org or
212-366-404 or 212-206-2280.
~ Names of inventors are not included, only assignee names.
~ Worldwide coverage from 1982+ (including EPO & WIPO).
~ Prior to 1982 coverage included US, Belgium, Canada, France,
West Germany, UK, Holland, Japan, & South Africa
exclusively.
~ The database is based on the Derwent services European Patent
Report & Chemical Patents Index & on Chemical Abstracts, in
addition further GB & US patents are used. The abstract is
taken from the Derwent services.
Physics, Electronics & Computing
Inspec - Institute of Electrical
Engineers
US + UK | University of Chicago has a
subscription| Dates: Pre-1977 only| Language:
English| Size: Unclear
~ This database focuses specifically on fields within
physics, electronics & computing.
~ Can search by name of the inventor, application number, country
of application, date filed, & patent assignee.
~ Searching for patents: Select "Search Fields". From the list of
fields select "Publication Type" & search for "patent". Enter
your other search terms once the publication type search has been
conducted. Combine your two searches so that you are looking for
your specific keywords but only within "patents".
~ Another method of searching: Select "Search Fields". Select
"Patent Information" & enter keywords related to assignee,
country, patent number or date submitted.
~ For a full-text copy of this patent: go to the US Patent &
Trademark Office. Conduct a search using "Patent Number". You must
type "PP" before the patent number i.e. pp8091.
| Found a Patent? Need the Full-Text
Copy? |
The Next
Step |
Full-text, print copies of patents are NOT available at the
University of Chicago. However, faculty, staff & students of
the University can use SciFinder
Scholar (a desktop research tool for accessing information in
Chemical Abstracts databases) to search for patents or any of the
resources listed above. Once you have located the patent you are
interested in, then you need to locate a print or electronic copy.
You have three options:
- Search the web for full-text electronic copies of patents
(see above )
- Contact or visit the nearest "Patent Depository Library" (see
below)
- Contact a commercial patent provider (patents at a cost)
(see below)
The Harold Washington
Library (Chicago Public Library), located on 400 S. State
street in Chicago, is an official Patent Depository library
(federal)."The Chicago Public Library is one of over 80 Patent
& Trademark Depository Libraries in the United States. The
collection consists of all utility patents from 1790 to those
issued as recently as four weeks ago, complete design patents from
1843 to those issued about 4 months ago, & plant patents from
1932 to those issued as recently as 6-8 weeks ago. Together, they
total well over 6 million documents. Copies of these patents, with
the indexes & other publications used for searching them, are
available in the Business/Science/Technology Division of the
Central Library".
"The Computer-Assisted Reference Center (CARC) can access
numerous online databases for US & foreign patents. The full
text of patents is available on some databases. Searches are done
for a fee by appointment. A search may be booked in person or by
telephone. Search results may be mailed, faxed, or picked up in
person. Fees may be paid in cash, by check, money order, or credit
card, or through an account. For further information, call
(312)747-4470".
The
Illinois State Library "became a United States Patent &
Trademark Depository Library in January 1984. As one of only two
patent libraries in the state, the library supports Illinois'
economic development efforts by providing individuals &
businesses with current & accessible information. The patent
& trademark materials available at the Illinois State Library
provide technical information that frequently cannot be found
elsewhere"
"Patent searching is time consuming, & preliminary searches
may take several hours. For this reason, individuals should discuss
their research needs with a depository staff member. Appointments
can be made for training or discussion of research needs by calling
(217)782-5659".
Locate a patent depository library in your area (US only) via
the Patent
& Trademark Depository Library Program. or:
Patent & Trademark Depository
Library Program
United States Patent & Trademark
Office
Crystal Park 3, Suite 461
Washington, DC 20231
Fax: 703 306-2662
Contact the US Patent &
Trademark Office at:
General Information Services
Division
US Patent & Trademark
Office
Crystal Plaza 3, Room 2C02
Washington, DC 20231
800-786-9199 or 703-308-4357
usptoinfo@uspto.gov
Commercial Patent Providers (at a cost) include companies such
as MicroPatent. MicroPatent can
deliver patents electronically.
| Historical or Significant Patents |
Significant Historical
Patents of the United States - Jim Bieberich, Patent
Historian
The National
Inventors Hall of Fame! - Inventure
Place
Mothers & daughters of
invention : notes for a revised history of technology
Autumn Stanley, Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press,
1993.
~ Available at the John Crerar Library, University of Chicago -
T36.S730 1993
~ Subjects: Women in technology --History; Women inventors
--History.
~ Covers from the 1800's onward.
~ Includes topics such as medical apparatus patentees, stoves &
related cooking inventions patented by women in the 19th century,
Miscellaneous Agricultural Inventions, Women Patentees of Dish
washing Tools & Machines & more.
| Patents Offices Worldwide, Information on the
Application Process Etc. |
Patent Applications: Understanding the Process -
USLaw.com Library
A Guide to Patent
Applications - Francis E. LeVert, New York : Van Nostrand
Reinhold, c1993
~ Available at the D'Angelo Law Library, University of Chicago,
XXKF3120.Z9L480 1993
~ Subjects: United States--Patent laws & legislation
The European Patent System
- Gerald Paterson, London: Sweet & Maxwell,
2000 ~ This book is available at the John Crerar
Library, University of Chicago.
~ Subjects: Patent laws & legislation - Europe.
Protection of intellectual property
in Central & Eastern European countries : the legal situation
in Bulgaria, CSFR, Hungary, Poland &
Romania - Adolf Dietz, Paris, France : Organisation for
Economic Co-operation & Development ; Washington, DC : OECD
Publications & Information Centre [distributor], c1995
~ Available at the John Crerar Library, University of Chicago -
608.493 Q700, 1830-1907
Patents in imperial Russia : a history of the Russian
institution of invention privileges under the old regime,
Anneli Aer, Helsinki : Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia,
1995 ~ Available at the D'Angelo Law Library,
University of Chicago - XXKLA1194.A464 1995 ~
Subjects: Patent laws & legislation --Russia--History, Patents
--Russia--History.
General patent
information| Kinds of patents |Lifetime of a patent|How to find
a patent
Where to find Patents| Historical or
significant patents| How to patent
something
John Crerar
Library | Top of page
B.Kern, Crerar, 2001
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