Christopher Center Library Services: Patent Searching for Scientists and Engineers

Patent Searching for Scientists and Engineers

Understanding Patents || Finding Patents || Citing Patents

Understanding Patents

General Information Concerning Patents
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/index.html

“Intellectual Property” and “Intellectual Property in Engineering” in Wiley Encyclopedia of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Ref. TK 9 .W55 1999, vol. 10, p. 445-479.

“Patent and Trademark Office” and “Patents” in West’s Encyclopedia of American Law Ref. KF 154 .W47 1998, vol. 8, p. 35-43.

Patent Fundamentals for Scientists and Engineers. T 339 .G67 2000

Patent Strategy for Researchers and Research Managers. KF 3120 .Z9 K58 1996

“Patents” in Introduction to United States Government Information Sources Ref. J 83 .M674 1996, p. 264-270.

“Primary Sources—Patent Documents” in Chemical Publications: Their Nature and Uses. QD 8.5 .M44 1982

What Are Patents, Trademarks, Service Marks, and Copyrights?
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/whatis.htm

Finding Patents

Help

Examiner Handbook to the U.S. Patent Classification System
http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS570

Patent Searching Made Easy T 210 .H58 2001

Patent Searching: Tutorial and Guide to Online Resources and Information
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/engin/patent-tutorial/index.htm

Patent Databases and Indexes

Google Patent Search Indexes U.S. patents from 1790's to mid-2006. Includes full-text when freely available.

LexisNexis Academic (VU users only) All U.S. patents full-text back to 1971 and other full-text patent databases and sources

Ei Compendex and Engineering Village (VU users only) Use the Compendex interface to search the U.S. patent database.

SciFinder Scholar (access limited) Use the SciFinder Scholar search features, including the option to search by chemical structure or formula, to search for chemistry-related patents. Software provides links to full-text when available free.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Provides free access to U.S. patents full-text since 1976 and full-page images since 1790.

European Patent Office Search a variety of European patent databases, some with full-text availability.

Patent Depository Libraries

Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center
Business, Science and Technology Division
400 South State Street
Chicago, ILL 60605
(312) 747-4450
http://www.chipublib.org/001hwlc/bstpatents.html

Purdue University
Siegesmund Engineering Library
West Lafayette, IN 47907
http://www.lib.purdue.edu/engr/servicesandmaterials/materials/patents.html

Citing Patents

ACS Style Guide QD 8.5 .A25 2006, p. 310-311.

Complete Guide to Citing Government Information Resources Ref. J 9.5 .G376 1993, p. 55 and p. 190.

Chicago Manual of Style Ref., Reserves, 4th floor: Z 253 .U69 2003, p. 709.

Scientific Style and Format T 11 .S386 2002, p. 657-658.

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Google Patent Search		Indexes U.S. patents from 1790's to mid-2006. Includes full-text when freely available.
LexisNexis Academic (VU users only)		All U.S. patents full-text back to 1971 and other full-text patent databases and sources
Ei Compendex and Engineering Village (VU users only)		Use the Compendex interface to search the U.S. patent database.
SciFinder Scholar (access limited)		Use the SciFinder Scholar search features, including the option to search by chemical structure or formula, to search for chemistry-related patents. Software provides links to full-text when available free.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office		Provides free access to U.S. patents full-text since 1976 and full-page images since 1790.
European Patent Office		Search a variety of European patent databases, some with full-text availability.