How to Do a Patent Search

A Complete Guide for Beginning Inventors
By Mike Marks, Founder of Invention City
As a new inventor, one of the first crucial steps on your journey is determining whether your brilliant idea is truly original. Before investing time and resources into development, prototyping, and patent applications, you need to know if someone else has already claimed your intellectual territory and also consider how easily someone might copy your idea. This is where a patent search comes in.
Here are four basic rules before you get started:
PATENT SEARCH RULE #1: If you don’t find something similar to your invention, you probably haven’t searched in the right places or are thinking too narrowly.
PATENT SEARCH RULE #2: Patents are about details. Finding something similar doesn’t mean your dream is dead. Two questions should drive your search: 1) do the details of your invention make a better or lower cost product? and 2) does someone hold a patent that covers the specific design or process you have in mind? At the beginning stage you may not have clear answers because you don’t have a final design.
PATENT SEARCH RULE #3: If (when) you find something similar, look at the citations and references for other relevant patents.
SEARCH RULE #4: AI search results can be unreliable.
Why Patent Searches Matter
A thorough patent search serves several important purposes:
Prevents wasted effort and resources on an idea that's already patented
Helps refine your invention by showing you what others have done
Provides valuable competitive intelligence about your market
Strengthens your eventual patent application by allowing you to differentiate your invention
Saves significant money by avoiding a full patent application for an already-patented concept
Understanding Patent Basics
Before diving into searches, you should understand some fundamental patent concepts:
Patents grant exclusive rights to make, use, or sell an invention for a limited time
Patent protection is territorial - a US patent only provides protection within the United States
Patents require novelty - your invention must be new and non-obvious
Patents expire - generally after 20 years from the filing date; when a patent has expired anyone can use it - including you
Patents become public - all patent documents are eventually published
Step 1: Clarify What You're Searching For
Before beginning your search, clearly define your invention:
Write a detailed description of your invention's function, components, and purpose
Identify key technical features that make your invention unique
List alternative implementations or variations of your concept
Determine keywords and terminology associated with your invention
Classify your invention (mechanical, electrical, chemical, etc.)
This preparation will make your search more focused and efficient.
Step 2: Start with a Preliminary Search
Begin with free resources to get a general landscape of existing patents in your field:
Google Patents
Google Patents provides a user-friendly interface to search millions of patents:
Enter keywords related to your invention
Use the advanced search options to filter by date, inventor, or assignee
Examine the results to identify relevant patents
Review the "cited by" and "similar documents" sections for related inventions
USPTO Patent Database
The United States Patent and Trademark Office offers several search tools:
Use the "Quick Search" for simple keyword searches
Try the "Advanced Search" for more complex queries
Explore the "PatFT" (Patents Full-Text) database for granted patents
Check the "AppFT" (Applications Full-Text) database for pending applications
Free International Databases
Don't limit yourself to US patents. Check these international resources:
Espacenet - European Patent Office database with over 120 million documents
WIPO PATENTSCOPE - World Intellectual Property Organization database
AI Search Tools
These can be unreliable, but sometimes they can find things other search tools do not. At this moment (March, 2025), Perplexity.ai seems to deliver the best results.
Step 3: Understand Patent Classification
Patent offices organize inventions using classification systems to make searching more efficient:
Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
The CPC is a joint system used by the USPTO and European Patent Office:
Visit the CPC Scheme
Navigate through the hierarchical structure to find your invention's category
Use these classification codes in your searches to find relevant patents
Step 4: Conduct a Comprehensive Search
Now it's time for a more thorough investigation:
Combine keywords with classification codes for more precise results
Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine your search
Search for variations of your invention's features
Look at cited patents to trace the development of similar technologies
Check assignee companies that operate in your invention's field
Review non-patent literature like scientific journals and technical publications
Search Syntax Tips:
Use quotation marks for exact phrases: "solar powered device"
Use asterisks for truncation: electr* will find electric, electrical, etc.
Use proximity operators to find terms near each other: solar NEAR5 panel
Step 5: Analyze Your Results
As you find potentially relevant patents, analyze them carefully:
Read the abstract first for a quick overview
Examine the claims section - this defines the legal scope of protection
Review the drawings to understand the invention visually
Study the detailed description for technical specifics
Note filing and priority dates to understand timing
Check the patent's status - is it active, expired, or abandoned?
Create a spreadsheet to track relevant patents and note how they compare to your invention.
Step 6: Consider Professional Help
If your preliminary search reveals similar inventions or if you're developing something complex:
Patent Attorneys
Professional patent attorneys can:
Conduct more sophisticated searches
Interpret search results with legal expertise
Advise on the patentability of your invention
Help you navigate around existing patents
Professional Search Services
Patent search firms offer:
Access to premium databases
Specialized search expertise
Comprehensive reports
International search capabilities
Invention City’s Patent Search Service
Invention City performs patent searches from a commercial perspective. Legal services commonly consider search results with regard to whether or not an invention can get a patent. Invention City considers whether or not a patent is worth getting.
Finds Prior Art Others Miss: We frequently uncover relevant prior art that even far more expensive searches fail to find.
Real-World Commercial Insights: Our experience with over 300 issued U.S. and international patents, combined with direct involvement in high-stakes patent litigation, gives us a unique perspective on what makes a patent truly valuable. Many patent attorneys never see their patents tested in court—we have.
Business-First Approach: We focus on practical risks and opportunities, helping you make informed decisions about whether to pursue a patent or invest in development.
The Invention City patent search is not intended to be comprehensive or to provide definitive legal results. It is intended to give early insight into whether or not pursuit of expensive patent protection makes sense. Begin a discussion with us here.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Too Many Results
Add more specific terms to your search
Include classification codes
Focus on key features that make your invention unique
Too Few Results
Try alternative terminology
Broaden your search to more general concepts
Check related technological fields
Foreign Language Patents
Use machine translation tools
Focus on examining drawings
Consider professional translation for potentially critical documents
Next Steps After Your Search
Based on your search results, you'll need to decide how to proceed:
Clear path forward: If no conflicting patents exist, consider filing a patent application
Similar patents found: Analyze how your invention differs and if those differences are patentable
Direct conflicts: Consider modifying your invention to work around existing patents
Expired patents: Determine if you can freely use previously patented technology
Final Tips for Beginning Inventors
Document your search process thoroughly for future reference
Be patient - effective patent searching takes time
Stay organized - use tools to track your findings
Be thorough - don't stop at the first similar patent you find
Consider the international landscape if you plan to market globally
Remember that patent language is specialized - familiarize yourself with common terms
Update your search periodically as new patents are published daily
Conclusion
A proper patent search is an investment that can save you significant time, money, and frustration down the road. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you'll gain valuable insights into the patent landscape surrounding your invention and be better positioned to make informed decisions about your path forward.
Remember, even if you find similar patents, this doesn't necessarily mean the end of your invention journey. It may simply require you to pivot, refine, or rethink aspects of your concept. Some of the most successful inventions are improvements or clever workarounds to existing technologies!
Happy inventing!
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