Guide to STN Patent Databases – Basic Version - Paton - TU Ilmenau

14
Guide to STN Patent Databases
2 Typical searches and search methods
What patents exist for brakes suitable for roller blades?
You want to know about patents granted/applied for in a specialist field, thus what is already known,
possibly already patented, and whether there has already been a solution to the problem you pose. This is
a Subject Search.
What patents are owned by Smith, Inc. in Columbus, OH?
This is a Name Search for a particular applicant.
What patents are owned by Zebadiah Smith?
This is also a Name Search for an inventor.
There is reputed to be a patent owned by Smith, Inc. for a new brake for roller skates. Is this true?
What does it say?
This is a combination of Name Search and Subject Search.
Do we have to have regard to the US patent no. 5,000,075 in the UK?
You do have to, a) if you want to sell your product in the USA or b) if this patent has been applied for in the
UK, either directly at the Intellectual Property Office, IPO, or at the European Patent Office, EPO. You have
to decide yourself about (a), but (b) involves a Patent Family Search.
Is there a patent written in English that relates to the number JP57080923?
There may be such a patent on account of an application in another country. To find out, a Patent Family
Search is necessary.
Has a patent been granted to the application no. GB 94-4567, or is the application still valid?
A Legal Status Search can answer this question.
What other patents are cited in the US patent no. 5,000,075? Where has this patent itself been cited?
These are questions that can be answered with a Citation Search.
What is the complete text of US patent no. 5,000,075?
There are some databases that provide the Full Text for patents.
How can I search for the patents of a particular country?
How can I search for dates?
How should I enter a patent number?