Patents

There are multiple methods you can use to search for patents, depending on your needs. For instance, if you want to discover patents of a particular item or category, using classification or keyword searching works. Most patent databases are easiest to use for classification searching, with the exception of Derwent Innovations Index, that is optimized for keywords. If you want to find a specific patent, you can use the patent number.  

Searching for patents is a unique process, due to the way patents are categorized. Specifically, each patent is assigned multiple classification numbers that correspond to the nature of the patent. The most common classification systems are:

• Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
• International Patent Classification (IPC)

By searching with the classification system, you can locate similar types of patents faster and more comprehensively than keyword searching. Of the two classifications, the CPC system is most commonly used when searching US patents. To look up the classification numbers, use the following sites: