Free Patent Search Instructions

Patent Search

Free Patent Search Info for inventors, writers, gardeners, designers, engineers,& others.
Patent searches can be a lot of fun even if you don’t intend to apply for a patent.
For example: Maybe you found a patent number on an antique and want to know more about.
Or you can just pick a subject such as engines, wheels, or whatever and look at the progress that has been made over the last few years. Or if you like to write articles or reports, here is a great source of ideas. If you are a gardener you can look up plant patents. There is a P in front of a plant patent number or a D in front of a design patent number. Or you can see how many people with your last name have been issued patents since 1975. Unfortunately you can only search by patent number, issue date, and current US classification prior to 1975.
If you have a great idea and don’t want it go to waste, there are two things you should do before spending much time or any money on it.
Make a list of descriptive or key words to describe your gizmo and search on Yahoo and Google for those words.
If no one has already put it on the market, then start your free patent search.

You start by going to http://www.uspto.gov/main/howdoi.htm
In the upper left hand corner of the screen is a box titled "find". In that box click on Existing patents and trademarks.
This will take you to http://www.uspto.gov/main/profiles/acadres.htm .

Before going any farther it might be a good idea to look at this entire page to see all of the information that is available.
To view patents you have to have a TIFF viewer. You can get one free by following the next couple of instructions.

In the blue box on the left side click on PATENT IMAGES where it says "Can’t view PATENT IMAGES?".
On the left side near the bottom there are instructions to follow.
Click on (1) TIFF image plug in (viewer). and follow the instructions.
Click on internetiff and follow the directions on the next page.
You will be transferred to http://www.internetiff.com
On the left side near the top click on free.
Free Patent Search Info
Click on the proper version for your browser.
When the download box appears click on run.
In the next info box click on yes and follow the instructions.

Go back to http://www.uspto.gov/main/profiles/acadres.htm
Click on Search patents now.
OK Now the fun begins. This is paid for by your tax dollars and patent office fees so you may as well enjoy it.
Click on Quick Search.
Do you want to see the first patent issued in the US?
At the top of the page near the center click on Pat Num. Now on the left side in the Query Box type in 0000001 then click on Search. The patent numbers are always seven digits.
On the next screen click on Images.

There it is! Pat. number 1 for a traction wheel dated Jul. 13 1836.
On the row of symbols click on the crooked up arrow and a box will appear to help you search for the various items of the patent.
When you are through looking at Pat. number 1 click the back arrow on your browser. Lets say you thought of a new and improved way to get over a wall.
Type in the key word of the item you are interested in such as ladder in the box for Term 1.
Click on your selection in field 1 such as Title.
Click on Search.
A list of 50 patents will come up. In the example I clicked on "Utility Ladder"
Now you can read the abstract to see if this is what you are interested in. Up in the top center you can click on the red box that says Images.
Here you can read the front page and see a sketch of the patent. Use your back arrow to return to the previous page and scroll down to References cited and look at some of these patents. I usually go to the newest patent first.
It is interesting to look at the different patents to see how they are written. Some very simple devices have the same features described over and over in different ways to say the same thing. It sometimes looks like the patent attorney was getting paid by the word and had to make a payment on his new Lamborghini.
A more or less typical design patent is shown on patent num D536,545S dated Feb 13, 2007.
I enjoy putting in random numbers, always seven digits, and looking at some of the weird things that have been patented. Some of them might give you an idea for a new product using modern technology.
For more on this subject you may enjoy my book "How to Invent, Patent, and Market" at
http://www.inventingandmarketing.com/invlrnmor1295

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