Requests for Patents

Information to Include

The most useful information is the patent number and patent agency, but as much of the following data as possible should be included on requests, especially if the patent number is not known:

• Patent number
• Country or agency issuing the patent
• Title of patent
• Date patent was granted; at least the year or ten year range if possible
• Inventor and/or assignee name(s)
• Description of the patented item, etc.
• Format wanted by the patron (full patent with graphics, text only, name of inventor, etc.)
• The patron's name and daytime phone number

Request Forms

When a patent number and issuing country or agency are known, the request should be submitted on a blank monograph form. The Reference & Loan Library will then try to obtain the patent from the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) database on the internet at http://www.uspto.gov/ or from Milwaukee Public Library or Wisconsin Interlibrary Loan Service (WILS).

If the patent number is not known or there is insufficient information, a reference/subject request form should be used.

Patent Searches

Inventors request patent searches to find out whether their inventions are somehow original or, at least, not already patented by others. A class number search is the most effective patent search.

A keyword search of the patent databases is not an accurate or comprehensive method of determining the originality or patentability of an invention. Even if the patron is willing to provide specific keywords describing the invention, those keywords may produce too many results to economically and realistically print out. Also, the patron's keywords may not be the keywords selected by the patent agency.

Library staff will perform keyword searches and provide the results whenever possible. If the search produces too many patents to print out, an explanation will be given on the response form. This response will include information on how to contact the Patent Assistance Center at the U. S. Patent & Trademark Office (http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/dapp/pacmain.html) for the patron to attempt to obtain the class number(s) the invention may be assigned if it went through the patent process. The request should then be resubmitted and a search by class number will be performed. The classification manual and many helpful resources are on the USPTO website.

Information to Include

• Patent class number(s), if known
• Specific keywords describing the invention/idea
• Patron's name and daytime phone number

Request Forms

A reference/subject request form should be used.

For more information about requesting patent information from the Reference and Loan Library, Wisconsin librarians may call the library toll-free at 1-888-542-5543 (Choose 5 for Reference services). Individual library users should contact their local public library.

For questions about this information, contact Shiela A. Pollock (608) 224-5395

Last updated on 2/25/2008 1:35:50 PM