Patent & Trademark Resource Center

New Mexico State University Library houses the state and regional Patent & Trademark Resource Center. Patenting an invention and trademarking a product name can be challenging. PTRC library staff are information experts trained on how to use search tools

Contacting the PTRC

If you would like assistance at the PTRC, please email or call to set up an appointment.

David Irvin

Assistant Professor, New Mexico State University Library

Business Librarian

Email: lib-ptrc@nmsu.edu

Phone: (575) 646-6925.

Google Patent search

Google Patents
Google Patents covers the entire collection of granted patents and published patent applications from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO). US patent documents date back to 1790, EPO to 1978. Google Patents uses the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC).

See "about" Google Patents for searching tips.

The whys and hows of Patent searching

Search for patents here: USPTO's Patent Public Search

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You have an idea for an invention - or have gone so far as to create a prototype. Before marketing your invention, you will need to determine if your invention has already been patented. You will want to conduct a thorough patent search. This will usually involve searching a number of different patent sites, so it is useful to keep a log of all your search activity, thus avoiding duplicate efforts.

You can begin your search the following way:

1. Brainstorm Keywords to describe your invention - think of synonyms.

2. Use your Keywords to search for a similar match of your invention in Google Patents. The Advanced Search in Google Patents lets you enter phrases, exclude a word, etc.

3. Write down the class and subclass of the similar invention.

4. Use the class and subclass to search patents and patent applications at the USPTO website classification search. Note: The default search is CPC (Cooperative Patent Classification) which is a joint effort between the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO). This classification system harmonizes the former European Classification (ECLA) and United States Patent Classification (USPC) systems.

5. Trace related patents through references.

Although Google Patents is easy to use it is not as current as the USPTO website. If you need to look through a large number of patents it mat be worthwhile to make an appointment to use the PubWEST database at the Patent & Trademark Resource Center. This database is not accessible except through the PTRC.

See General Information Concerning Patents

Also: Patent Process Overview

Using Classification to Deepen a Patent Search

While it is possible to search patents using just keywords, the best way to conduct a comprehensive patent search is by classification. Classification helps bring together similar devices and concepts, even when different terms have been used to describe them.

When a device is truly new, terminology is not set. For example, before personal computers a mouse was just a type of rodent. The inventor of the first "Computer Input and Display Control" would not have found related devices by searching the keyword "mouse."
A classification is used both as a tool for finding patents (patentability searches) and for assisting in the assignment of patent applications to examiners for examination purposes.
Classifications have definitions.
Classifications have hierarchical relationships to one another.

Searching Help

The United States Patent & Trademark Office has a video (36 mins.) to assist users in finding Patents.

How to Conduct a U.S. Patent Search: A Step-by-Step Strategy