Patent Searching Guide

Quick Search

This is the Quick Search screen:

Your goal for the Patent Search is to find the Patent Classification Number(s) that best describe your invention. Searching with the Patent Classification Numbers will give you the most comprehensive search in the PatFT database. The best way to find the appropriate Patent Classification Number(s) is through Word Searching. Use words that best describe what your invention is, what it does, how it works, etc. The words will lead you to Patents that are similar to your own invention. Then you need to look at the Patent Classification Number(s) for those Patents and search using those numbers in order to perform the most complete Patent Search possible.