How to Use Google Patent Search

If you want to search for patents, you can spend an endless amount of time searching through all of the listed patents on Google Patent Search. Over 7 million patents are cataloged in their directory. All of the patents are registered through the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Locate the Google Patent Search page. If you use the Google search engine, simply type in patents to get directed to the right page.

2. Select one of the highlighted patents. When you first get on the Google Patent Search page, five historic patents are highlighted. Click on the link to learn more about that specific patent.

3. Type the name of the patent that you want to search for in the provided bar. Google Patent Search then returns a list of patents registered. Under each name is the patent number, date filed and brief description of the product.

4. Use the advanced search option to reduce the number of returned results. You can further define your search by using the patent number, inventor or date issued.

5. Click on the patent's title for more information about the patent. You can see drawings of the invention, descriptions and the claims made about the product.

Tips & Warnings

• You can research historic patents on Google Patent Search. Interesting patents to look at include the initial prototype for a calculator, microscope and lipstick.
• You'll find Google Patent Search very useful if you are a potential inventor. You can find out if there is already a patent placed on your invention.