Engineering Subject Guide

The most effective searching for patents is when you determine how the invention works, NOT how you will use the invention.

When brainstorming keywords and search terms, ask yourself the following:

1. What is the primary function of the invention or design?

•    Helps identify key terms related to the purpose, e.g., "lifting," "support," "stabilization."

2. What materials or components are used in this design or process?

•    Specific materials or systems, such as "steel frame," "composite structure," or "hydraulic system."

3. How does the system or device operate?

•    Focuses on mechanisms, like "rotating," "telescoping," or "pivoting.")

4. What problem does this design solve or improve? 

•   Challenges addressed, like "load distribution," "stability," or "safety."

5. Are there any similar existing technologies, and how is this one different? 

•    Distinguishing features, like "modular," "portable," or "automated."

Google Patents includes patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the European Patent Office (EPO), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

More options for finding patents:

• Google Advanced Patent Search offers more options, such as limiting results by date or by United States Patent Classification (USPC) codes. You can find USPC codes at the U. S. Patent Office website.

"...patent applications usually contain the first disclosure of new technologies and processes and serve to link theory with practice, providing ‘real world’ examples of the application of scientific research. Increasingly, scientific discoveries are reported first in the patent literature, rather than in academic journals." (MacMillan, 2006)