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PATENT COLLECTION
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PTDLP Long Island Patent & Trademark Depository Library
A Patent & Trademark Depository Library (PTDL) is a library that is designated by the PTO to receive and house copies of U.S. patents and related materials and to make them freely available to the public.

The Science & Engineering Library of SUNY at Stony Brook (located on the first floor of the Melville Library) was officially designated as a PTDL in Spring 1998. By virtue of this designation the library receives all CASSIS-DVD products, copies of US patents as they are granted on DVD, and other patent and trademark reference materials. Assistance is available by appointment: 631.632.7148 or 631.632.0530. Patent Depository Librarian: Godlind Johnson

Much of this information and assistance is also available from Suffolk Cooperative Library System (SCLS), located in Bellport, NY. For more information call 631.286.1600 (ext.1335)

Patent Collection at Stony Brook

All CASSIS CD-ROM/DVD Patent & Trademark Products

United States Patents
U.S. Patent & Trademark Official Gazette  1911 – 9/2002 (Print)
 7/2002 – date (US Patent & Trademark Office, Official Gazette for Patents)
 1966 - date (Microfilm at SCLC)
All U.S. Patents   1790 - date (USAPAT/DVD, USAPP/DVD)
  1790 – date (US Patent and Trademark Office)
Utility Patents    1973 - 1998 (Microfilm)
Design Patents   1997 - 1998 (Microfilm)
Plant Patents   March 1998 - date (Color Photo)

International Patents
European Patent Office (EPO) Varying date ranges for 71 countries (EPO Worldwide Database)
US patents included from 1920 – date (PDF format)
Canadian Patent Office (CIPO) 1920 - date
World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) Worldwide patenting information only, for patents use EPO

Patents Searching on Long Island

A 15 minute video film “Conducting a Patent Search at a PTDL” is available upon request at the Science & Engineering Library or from the Suffolk Cooperative Library System. Long Island residents may borrow the video via their Public Libraries.

Each Step indicates in what format(s) and where the particular tool may be found. Internet links are provided for all steps that can be completed on the Internet.

STEP 1. Describe your invention: What does it do? What is its end result? What is it made of? What is it used for?

STEP 2. Consult Index to the U.S. Patent Classification: This is an alphabetical list of common, informal words or terms which refer to specific classes and subclasses used to categorize patents. Look for your invention name directly and if not found, then try the way it works, the basic function, method of use, etc. Make a list of possible class and subclass numbers.
Print: Science & Engin. Library Patent Ref T223 .A25
Printed Index in L.I. Public Libraries or Nassau Public Libraries
Internet:  Index Online


STEP 3 - Use the Manual of Classification Online: This is a numerical list of classes and subclasses which serves as a detailed outline of technology. It shows the interrelationships between subjects. Find your class number at the top of the page, then follow down the column and find your subclass. Start there and read through the other subclasses until you reach the next bold print. Choose the subclass(es) that best describe your invention.
Print: Science & Engin. Library Patent Ref T223 .F42
Print Manual in Suffolk Public Libraries or Nassau Public Libraries
Internet: Manual of Classification Online


STEP 4. Read Classification Definitions: Consult the Classification Definitions for official definitions of what falls into the class and subclass numbers to help you make a final decision on the class and subclass numbers to search. Definitions include important search notes and suggestions for further research.
Microfiche: Gov. Docs. C21.3/2
Internet:  Definitions Online


STEP 5. Review Patent Titles/Abstracts: Find out if you are on the right path by retrieving and browsing through titles/abstracts of patents in your class/subclasses. Or redirect your search by searching by applicable keywords. Note the class and subclass of those patents that look similar to your invention and go back to step 3. Once you have found the appropriate class/subclass which describes your invention, proceed to step 6.
CASSIS DVD: Patents Class
Internet: US PTO Patent Database


STEP 6. Print a List of Patents in Your Class/Subclass(es):  The CASSIS Class CD-ROM will compile a listing of all the patent numbers that have been granted in a class and subclass from 1790 through the latest update.  The listing from the USPTO Fulltext Database includes titles from 1976 - date and all additional classification numbers for each patent for 1790 - 1975.
CASSIS DVD: Patents Class
Internet: US PTO Patent Database


STEP 7.
Look up summaries, a representative drawing and one or more claim(s) for each patent on your list to eliminate patents unrelated to your invention.  This can be done in the Official Gazette or on the Internet.  Printed volumes of the Official Gazette from 1911- date are located on left wall shelving on the first floor of the Science & Engineering Library.
Print: Science & Engin. Library Patent Ref T223.A5 , 1911-
Microfilm: SCLS (Suffolk Cooperative Library System), 1966 -
Internet: US PTO Patent Database


STEP 8. Finding Full-Text Patents at Stony Brook: Look at the complete text and images of closely related patents to find out how different they are from your invention and eliminate unrelated inventions. For details on accessing complete text and images of patents, please ask a librarian.
DVD: USAPat (1790 - date)
Microfilm: (1973-1998)
Internet: US PTO Patent Database


Other Patent Retrieval Database - US & Foreign
  • Community of Science Patent Database - fully searchable bibliographic file indexes all of the approximately 1.7 million U.S. patents issued since 1975. Updated weekly and searches all of the important “front page“ information about each patent: number, dates, assignee, inventor, title, abstract, exemplary claims for recent years, and U.S. and international classifications. Links to “prior art” patents and to later citing patents. Stony Brook faculty, students and staff can search this database free as members of the Community of Science
  • MicroPatent's PatentWeb Services - a commercial site, which delivers full-text images of patents in various formats. The following searches are free to any user after registration, which is also free: Search Full text of most recent 4 weeks of U.S. Patents and view front page drawings with PatentImage Viewer (may be downloaded free); search text of this and last weeks U.S. patents by classification and/or keywords; view front pages of any US Patent since 1974 by the patent number.
  • Derwent Scientific & Patent Information WWW Server - a commercial firm specializing in patent information, Derwent provides access to the international patent literature through its online patent database, patent document delivery, and patent translation services. Provides useful information about the international patent classification, application procedures, and the uses of patent information. Specific information is available on the patent process for Canada, Italy, and Japan

Information on the Patenting Process

Obtaining Patents in Hardcopy

Stony Brook faculty, staff, and students may obtain copies of patents not available at the Library through Interlibrary Loan. If you have a Chemical Abstracts citation number for the patent you want, please include that with your request for faster processing. You may expect this process to take about a week.
Send questions or comments about this information to Godlind Johnson

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Stony Brook University Libraries
Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library, Stony Brook, NY 11794-3300
631.632.7100 (t), 631.632.7116 (fax)

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Copyright 2003. Last Update: December 2003