Penn State University Libraries - Keyword Searching

Keyword searching enables an individual to search for and find patents by matching one's own search terms to the actual words contained in patents. The searcher may also specify the "fields," or parts of patents, in which you'd like the keywords to be found.

Advantages: Keyword searches are quick and don't require highly specialized search skills. Keyword searches are also most appropriate for very recently developed technology for which the USPTO has not yet developed classifications.

Disadvantages: Keyword searches depend solely upon the searcher's ability to anticipate and guess at how an attorney or inventor may have described an invention. Additionally, the oldest patents in this database date from 1976 only. Older patents must be searched by classification or patent number.

Although you will perform keyword searches on the USPTO website and/or product name searches on the TESS (Trademark Electronic Search System) website, you may want first to review the search-specific information below in order to conduct the best search for your research needs.

You can search by:

(These links will each open a video in a new window)

• Company
• Inventor
• Product Name
• Other Useful Resource

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