Online Patent Resources

NOTE: if you have patent number, use these URLS for quick .pdf of the full-text, with images.

• www.pat2pdf.org
• sughrue.patentfetcher.com
• patentfetcher

Patent FAQ

Google Patents Full Text, Full-Page Images

Searchable full text/full page images of U.S. patents from USPTO. An alternative interface to searching USPTO. It is google, so it is easy to search.

USPTO Patent Database Full Text, Full-Page Images
Searchable full text/full-page images of U.S. patents from 1976 to present. Patents issued from 1790 to 1975 are only searchable by patent number or current U.S. patent classification. Patent applications filed from March 15, 2001 to date available.

European and World Patents (esp@cenet) Full Text, Full-Page Images
Worldwide coverage with over 38 million patent documents from 71 countries. Searchable bibliographic data back to 1920 for select countries including France, Germany, Great Britain, and the U.S. Pdfs available for over 30 countries, including Germany from 1877, Great Britain from 1920, and  U.S. from 1836.

Canadian Patents Database Full Text, Full-Page Images
Searchable abstracts and claims back to 1978, other fields, such as titles and names, searchable back to 1920. Facsimiles in pdf format extend from 1920 to the present.

Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe Full Text, No Images, Duke Only
Searchable full text access to U.S. utility patents from 1790 to present, with selective coverage from 1790 to 1974, and to U.S. plant and design patents from 1977 to the present. However, no drawings/diagrams provided.