How to Perform a Patent Search?

U.S. Patent Searching:

STEP 1: List of Search Terms - Develop a list of keywords, including synonyms, that describe the invention including each component of the invention. ...more

STEP 2: Index to the Classification of Patents - Find initial class/subclass for the invention. ...more

STEP 3: Manual of Classification - Review the full classification schedule. ...more

STEP 4: Classification Definitions - Review definitions to confirm classification. ...more

STEP 5: Search issued patents and patent applications for each classification searched. You can navigate directly from the Manual or Definitions or use one of the databases listed below. ...more
USPTO Patent Databases: search for patents from 1790 to the present by classification or patent number. Keyword searching is available from 1976-present.

PubWEST: PubWEST is the public version of a collection of databases created for the USPTO patent examiners and can ONLY be accessed in a Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL) (at Rice the PTDL is in the basement of Fondren Library) or in the Public Search Facility at the USPTO.
CASSIS DVD-ROM: database for patent searching is available in Fondren Library.

STEP 6: Review patents and applications in the same subject area. A Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) viewer is needed to view patent images. For instructions please see our TIFF downloading guide. ...more

STEP 7: Check references and field of search. Check the references cited and forward references for closely related patents and applications. Search applicable classes/subclasses found in those documents. ...morePatent Searching Tutorials:
Patent Searching Tutorial through University of Texas at Austin
Patent Search Tutorial through Penn State University

Additional Searching Resources:

PubWEST web-based searching database - library use only

USPTO Patent Search Templates - The USPTO is developing search templates that define the field of search, search tools and search methodologies for many classification areas.

Google Patents
Search U.S. patents from 1790 to within the last few months. Does not include published applications or international patents.

Scopus
Includes PatentCites which enables users to view citations from patent sources that cite Scopus articles on the Abstract and References page. Scopus Indexes over 15,000 journals, as well as several million web pages and U.S. and international patents. Database include article citations from 1996, and permits citation tracking, and (both) saving searches and email or RSS alerts of new material. The system will export records into major citation managers and prepare a bibliography according to major formats. (1966)

19th Century Masterfile
Subject matter index of U.S. patents issued 1790-1873. International Patent Searching:
PubWEST Patent Abstracts of the EPO (European Patent Office) and JPO (Japan Patent Office) - library use only
PubWEST Foreign Patent Image access - library use only

http://ep.espacenet.com/-- Search the European Patent Office database for European and Japanese patents; includes U.S. patents; uses http://www.wipo.int/classifications/ipc/ipc8/

World Intellectual Property PCT Database -- search international patent application data back to January 1, 1997.

Concordance, U.S. Patent Classification (USPC) to International Patent Classification (IPC)
CAMBIA Patent LensFree full-text patent search database containing over 5,500,000 patents and patent applications from the PCT, US, and EPO databases with patents from additional jurisdictions to be added in the next two years.

Canadian Patents DatabaseContains Text (Abstract and Claims) Databases begining with Aug. 15, 1978, Image Databases beginning with Jan. 1, 1920, and Bibliographic (Titles, Names, Dates, and Classification) Databases beginning with Jan. 1, 1869.

Trilateral Web SiteJoint web site of the European Patent Office, the Japanese Patent Office, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

British Library Patent ResourcesCollection of patent searching resources and links to intellectual property websites worldwide.

USPTO List of Other Intellectual Property Offices