Help for E-Resources/Article Databases

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« Return to List of Quick Guides

Searching

  1. Click on QUICK SEARCH under ISSUED PATENTS for full-text (1976-present) and/or images (1790-present).
  2. Select a set of years from the drop-down menu. Select 1976 TO PRESENT to search by keyword.
    (Optional) Select 1790 TO PRESENT to search by classification or patent number.
  3. Type a keyword or phrase in the TERM 1 search box and select a FIELD from the drop-down menu.
  4. You may expand or narrow your search by entering another keyword or phrase in the TERM 2 search box.
  5. Select a set of years from the drop-down menu.
  6. Click on SEARCH.

Combining Terms

Use OR to connect similar terms. OR broadens your search.

  • Example: barometer OR barograph
Use AND to connect separate concepts. AND narrows your search.
  • Example: slinky AND toy

Truncating Terms

Use $ replace one or more characters at the end of a search term.

  • Example: record$ (retrieves records, recording, recorder)

Proximity Searching

Phrases don't need to be in quotes in QUICK SEARCH.

Author Searching

  1. Type an inventor's last name and first name in the TERM 1 search box and select INVENTOR NAME from the drop-down menu.
    Example: peercy paul
  2. Click on SEARCH.

Company Searching

  1. Type a company's name in the TERM 1 search box and select ASSIGNEE NAME from the drop-down menu.
    Example: mattel
  2. Click on SEARCH.

Classification Searching

  1. Type a U.S. Classification number in the TERM 1 search box and select CURRENT U.S. CLASSIFICATION from the drop-down menu.
    Example: 127/36
  2. Select 1790 TO PRESENT in the SELECT YEARS box.
  3. Click on SEARCH.

Patent Number Searching

  1. Click on PAT NUM at the top of the screen.
  2. Type the patent number in the QUERY search box.
    Example: 5,146,634
  3. Click on SEARCH.

Application Patent Number Searching (for Issued Patents)

  1. Click on QUICK at the top of the screen.
  2. Type the application number (zero filled to 6 digits) in the TERM 1 search box and select APPLICATION SERIAL NUMBER from the drop-down menu.

    3. Example: 000123
  3. Click on SEARCH.

Displaying Search Results

  1. Click on the patent number or title to retrieve the patent text.
  2. Use SCROLL BAR to move through the text.
  3. Click on IMAGES to view visual representation of the patent, including drawings. NOTE: The AlternaTIFF plug-in is required. If not already on your workstation, it can be downloaded from http:www.alternatiff.com
  4. Click on HIT LIST to return to the results list.
  5. Click on NEXT 50 HITS to go to the next page of results.

Patents can be also be viewed at http://www.pat2pdf.org/.

Selecting Records

Selecting of records is not available.

Downloading Search Results

To download a patent, you must be viewing the patent text.

  1. Insert a formatted disk into a floppy drive.
  2. Click on FILE at the top of the screen and select SAVE AS.
  3. Type the disk drive letter, the filename, and the extension .txt in the FILE NAME box.
    Example: a:myfile.txt
  4. Click SAVE to begin downloading.

Emailing Search Results

To email a patent, you must be viewing the patent text

  1. Click on FILE at the top of the screen and choose SEND.
  2. Click on LINK BY EMAIL.
  3. Type your email address in the address box.
  4. Click on FILE and choose SEND.

Beginning a New Search, Exiting, and Getting Help

Beginning a New Search

  • Click on QUICK at the top of the page. Records from an earlier search will be lost once a new search is begun.

Exiting

  • Click on the browser's HOME at the top of the screen to return to the UW-Madison Libraries Web site.

Getting Help

  • Click on HELP for on-screen help.

For further assistance, consult library staff.

Databases Covered by This Guide

  • USPTO Full-Text and Image Patent Database