Morris County Library > Reference > Patents
About Patents
Are you an inventor? Before you apply for a patent, you will need to conduct a patent search to determine if your invention is already registered. Most of the research tools you need are readily available from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) web site. If you prefer direct access to primary documents, ask your librarian for directions to the closest patent depository collection in your area. Our closest patent research facility is Newark Public Library.- What steps do I need to take to get my invention patented?
- Can I conduct my patent search on the Internet?
- Has anyone else patented something like my invention?
- I have a patent number. Can I find out more about it?
- How do I get a copy of an existing patent?
- Where can I get patent application forms?
- Do I need a lawyer to get a patent?
- What US laws cover patents?
- What about patent protection in foreign countries?
- Can I market my invention myself?
- Should I license my invention?
If this is your first patent, ask your librarian for a the current edition of the book Patent It Yourself (Pressman). This resource explains the entire process in plain language. The USPTO offers General Information Concerning Patents including answers to frequently asked questions. The Patent Drawing Book (Lo) explains federal requirements and discusses acceptable medium.
INTERNET PATENT DATABASES
Internet patent databases are most helpful when you have want to locate information on a specific patent or compile a list of patents held by specific inventor/company. If you are trying to locate patents relating to a subject, you can try a keyword search. Caution! If you are an inventor keyword searching is NOT the best way to determine whether your invention is already patented. You will need to consult the patent classification manuals. The USPTO patent database contains information on patents issued January 1, 1976 to present. Search results will contain the patent number, inventor, title, date filed, abstract describing the invention and full-text of the patent. Patents issued between 1790 and 1976 are searchable only by patent number and current U.S. classification. The Delphion Intellectual Property Network (formerly IBM's Patent Server) database begins in 1971 and can be searched by keyword, patent number, inventor or assignee. Patent summaries and lists of claims are provided; full-text copies may be purchased from the web site.
HAS IT BEEN DONE?
The US Patent and Trademark Office organizes things into classes and subclasses. You need to find out where your invention falls in their system. The Index to the US Patent Classification will get you started. To make things more specific, to reduce the number of patents you will have to review, next use the Manual of Classification. If things are not clear, classes seem similar, use the Patent Classification Definitions. These pamphlets give detailed definitions and illustrations of things in each class and subclass. They are helpful if you are having trouble deciding where your invention would fit in the system.
Now that you know the class and subclass for your idea, you can run it through the USPTO database. If you want to search earier dates, you can visit a patent depository library and run a (Newark Public, for those of us in northern NJ) CASSIS, the Classification and Search Support Information System search. This computerized index to the patents covers 1969 to date. Results will be a list of patent numbers that fall within your requested class/subclass. If you are a local patron, we can request a CASSIS search on your behalf from NPL; turnaround time is about a week.
PATENT NUMBERS
You can start examining a patent by using the Official Gazette of the US Patent and Trademark Office, which begins in 1872. Morris County Library holds 1872-1998. For 1999+, use the UPSTO web site. For 1847-1871, see Patent Office Reports, which we have here at Morris County Library. If a patent seems very close to your idea you might want to see the complete specifications and drawing for that patent. You can also try Google Patent Search, as a starting point, then cross-check it with the US PTO.
PATENT COPY?
If the patent was granted after January 1, 1976 you can view and print full-text copies from the USTPO's web site. Copies of older patents can be requested from Newark Public Library. Call the Reference Dept. (973) 285-6969 to order. You will need to have a library card issued by one of our member libraries to be eligible for this service. Newark Public Library is the patent depository collection for northern New Jersey. In a hurry? You can order a patent from the USPTO.
PATENT APPLICATIONS
All current USPTO applications and forms can be downloaded for free from the Internet
DO IT YOURSELF
Inventing and Patenting Sourcebook explains the pros and cons of the do-it-yourself approach and includes a directory of registered patent attorneys and agents, by state. Patent It Yourself is also helpful. Attorneys registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office are listed on the Web. In New Jersey, see the New Jersey Lawyers Diary and Manual under the section "Attorneys according to areas of practice". The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory lists lawyers by specialty and location. You could also try a search by type of practice in the Wests Lawyers Directory.
US Law
Title 38 of the US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) covers patents.We have the CFR here at Morris County Library or you can search it at the US House web site.
FOREIGN PATENTS
Inventing and Patenting Sourcebook discusses getting patent protection outside of the United States. The US PTO web site also lists links to offices in many countries, including the Japanese Patent Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, and the European Patent Register. Commercial providers such as Derwent Scientific are also sources for foreign patent information. Some of this is free, but in most cases a fee is charged.
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