All business with the Patent and Trademark Office should be transacted
in writing and all correspondence relating to patent matters should be
addressed to “ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS, WASHINGTON, D.C.
20231.” Correspondents should be sure to include their full return
addresses, including zip codes. The principal location of the PTO is
Crystal Plaza 3, 2021 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia. The
personal presence of applicants at the PTO is unnecessary.
Applicants and attorneys are required to conduct their business with
decorum and courtesy. Papers presented in violation of this requirement
will be returned.
Separate letters (but not necessarily in separate envelopes) should be
written for each distinct subject of inquiry, such as assignments,
payments, orders for printed copies of patents, orders for copies of
records, and requests for other services. None of these inquiries should
be included with letters responding to Office actions in applications.
When a letter concerns a patent application, the correspondent must
include the application number, filing date, and Group Art Unit number.
When a letter concerns a patent, it must include the name of the
patentee, the title of the invention, the patent number, and the date of
issue.
An order for a copy of an assignment must give the book and page, or
reel and frame of the record, as well as the name of the inventor;
otherwise, an additional charge is made for the time consumed in making
the search for the assignment.
Applications for patents are not open to the public, and no information
concerning them is released except on written authority of the
applicant, his/her assignee, or his/her attorney, or when necessary to
the conduct of the business of the PTO. Patents and related records,
including records of any decisions, the records of assignments other
than those relating to assignments of patent applications, books, and
other records and papers in the Office are open to the public. They may
be inspected in the Patent and Trademark Office Search Room or copies
may be ordered.
The Office cannot respond to inquiries concerning the novelty and
patentability of an invention in advance of the filing of an
application; give advice as to possible infringement of a patent; advise
of the propriety of filing an application; respond to inquiries as to
whether, or to whom, any alleged invention has been patented; act as an
expounder of the patent law or as counselor for individuals, except in
deciding questions arising before it in regularly filed cases.
Information of a general nature may be furnished either directly or by
supplying or calling attention to an appropriate publication.
Library, Search Room Services and Patent and Trademark Depository
Libraries
The Scientific and Technical Information Center of the Patent and
Trademark Office located at Crystal Plaza 3, 2C01, 2021 Jefferson Davis
Highway, Arlington, VA, has available for public use over 120,000
volumes of scientific and technical books in various languages, about
90,000 bound volumes of periodicals devoted to science and technology,
the official journals of 77 foreign patent organizations, and over 40
million foreign patents on paper, microfilm, microfiche, and CD-ROM. The
Scientific and Technical Information Center is open to the public from
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday except federal holidays.
The Patent Search Room located at Crystal Plaza 3, 1A01, 2021 Jefferson
Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, is provided where the public may search
and examine United States patents granted since 1790. Patents are
arranged according to the U.S. Patent Classification System of over 400
classes and over 136,000 subclasses. By searching in these classified
groupings of patents, it is possible to determine, before actually
filing an application, whether an invention has been anticipated by a
United States patent, and it is also possible to obtain the information
contained in patents relating to any field of endeavor. The Patent
Search Room contains a set of United States patents arranged in
numerical order and a complete set of the Official Gazette.
A Files Information Room also is maintained where the public may inspect
the records and files of issued patents and other open records.
Applicants, their attorneys or agents, and the general public are not
entitled to use the records and files in the examiners’ rooms.
The Patent Search Room is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through
Friday except on Federal holidays.
Since a patent is not always granted when an application is filed, many
inventors attempt to make their own search of the prior patents and
publications before applying for a patent. This may be done in the
Patent Search Room of the Patent and Trademark Office, and in libraries,
located throughout the U.S., which have been designated as Patent and
Trademark Depository Libraries (PTDLs). An inventor may make a
preliminary search through the United States patents to discover if the
particular invention or one similar to it has been shown in the prior
patent. An inventor may also employ patent attorneys or agents to
perform the preliminary search. This search is not always as complete as
that made by the Patent and Trademark Office during the examination of
an application, but only serves, as its name indicates, a preliminary
purpose. For this reason, the Patent and Trademark Office examiner may,
and often does, reject claims in an application on the basis of prior
patents or publications not found in the preliminary search.
Those who cannot come to the Patent Search Room may order from the
Patent and Trademark Office copies of lists of original patents or of
cross-referenced patents contained in the subclasses comprising the
field of search, or may inspect and obtain copies of the patents at a
Patent and Trademark Depository Library. The Patent and Trademark
Depository Libraries (PTDLs) receive current issues of U.S. Patents and
maintain collections of earlier issued patents and trademark
information. The scope of these collections varies from library to
library, ranging from patents of only recent years to all or most of the
patents issued since 1790.
These patent collections are open to public use. Each of the PTDLs, in
addition, offers the publications of the U.S. Patent Classification
System (e.g., Manual of Classification, Index to the U.S. Patent
Classification System, Classification Definitions, etc.) and other
patent documents and forms, and provides technical staff assistance in
their use to aid the public in gaining effective access to information
contained in patents. The collections are organized in patent number
sequence.
Available in all PTDLs is the Cassis CD-ROM system. With various files,
it permits the effective identification of appropriate classifications
to search, provides numbers of patents assigned to a classification to
facilitate finding the patents in a numerical file of patents, provides
the current classification(s) of all patents, permits word searching on
classification titles, and on abstracts, and provides certain
bibliographic information on more recently issued patents.
Facilities for making paper copies from microfilm, the paper bound
volumes or CD-ROM are generally provided for a fee.
Due to variations in the scope of patent collections among the PTDLs and
in their hours of service to the public, anyone contemplating the use of
the patents at a particular library is advised to contact that library,
in advance, about its collection, services, and hours, so as to avert
possible inconvenience.
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
State Name of Library Telephone #
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Alabama * Auburn: Ralph Brown 334–844–1747
Draughon Library, Auburn
University
Birmingham Public Library 205–226–3620
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Alaska Anchorage: Z. J. Loussac 907–562–7323
Public Library,
Anchorage Municipal
Libraries
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Arizona * Tempe: Noble Science and 602–965–7010
Engineering
Library, Arizona State
University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Arkansas * Little Rock: Arkansas 501–682–2053
State Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
California * Los Angeles Public Library 213–228–7220
Sacramento: California State 916–654–0069
Library
San Diego Public Library 619–236–5813
* San Francisco Public 415–557–4500
Library
** Sunnyvale Center for 408–730–7290
Innovation, Invention and
Ideas
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Colorado Denver Public Library 303–640–6220
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Delaware Newark: University of 302–831–2965
Delaware Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
District of Columbia Washington: Founders 202–806–7252
Library, Howard University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Florida * Fort Lauderdale: Broward 954–357–7444
County Main Library
* Miami-Dade Public Library 305–375–2665
Orlando: University of 407–823–2562
Central Florida Libraries
Tampa Campus Library, 813–974–2726
University of South
Florida
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Georgia Atlanta: Library and 404–894–4508
Information Center,
Georgia Institute of
Technology
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Hawaii * Honolulu: Hawaii State 808–586–3477
Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Idaho Moscow: University of Idaho 208–885–6235
Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Illinois Chicago Public Library 312–747–4450
Springfield: Illinois State 217–782–5659
Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Indiana Indianapolis-Marion County 317–269–1741
Public Library
West Lafayette: Siegesmund 317–494–2872
Engineering Library,
Purdue University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Iowa Des Moines: State Library of 515–281–4118
Iowa
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Kansas * Wichita: Ablah Library, 316–978–3155
Wichita State University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Kentucky * Louisville Free Public 502–574–1611
Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Louisiana Baton Rouge: Troy H. 504–388–8875
Middleton Library,
Louisiana State University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Maine Orono: Raymond H. Fogler 207–581–1678
Library, University of
Maine
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Maryland College Park: Engineering & 301–405–9157
Physical Sciences Library,
University of Maryland
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Massachusetts Amherst: Physical Sciences 413–545–1370
and Engineering Library,
University of
Massachusetts
* Boston Public Library 617–536–5400
Ext. 265
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Michigan Ann Arbor: Media Union 313–647–5735
Library, The University of
Michigan
Big Rapids: Abigail S. Timme 616–592–3602
Library, Ferris State
University
** Detroit: Great Lakes 313–833–3379
Patent and Trademark
Center, Detroit Public
Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Minnesota * Minneapolis Public Library 612–372–6570
and Information Center
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Mississippi Jackson: Mississippi Library 601–359–1036
Commission
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Missouri * Kansas City: Linda Hall 816–363–4600
Library
St. Louis Public Library 314–241–2288
Ext. 390
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Montana Butte: Montana Tech of the 406–496–4281
University of Montana
Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Nebraska * Lincoln: Engineering 402–472–3411
Library, University of
Nebraska-Lincoln
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Nevada Reno: University Library, 702–784–6500
University of Nevada-Reno Ext. 257
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
New Hampshire Concord: New Hampshire State 603–271–2239
Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
New Jersey Newark Public Library 201–733–7782
Piscataway: Library of 908–445–2895
Science and Medicine,
Rutgers University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
New Mexico Albuquerque: Centennial 505–277–4412
Science and Engineering
Library, The University of
New Mexico
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
New York Albany: New York State 518–474–5355
Library
* Buffalo and Erie County 716–858–7101
Public Library
New York: Science, Industry 212–592–7000
and Business Library, New
York Public Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
North Carolina * Raleigh: D.H. Hill 919–515–3280
Library, North Carolina
State University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
North Dakota Grand Forks: Chester Fritz 701–777–4888
Library, University of
North Dakota
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Ohio Akron-Summit County Public 330–643–9075
Library
Cincinnati: The Public 513–369–6936
Library of Cincinnati and
Hamilton County
* Cleveland Public Library 216–623–2870
Columbus: Ohio State 614–292–6175
University Libraries
* Toledo/Lucas County Public 419–259–5212
Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Oklahoma * Stillwater: Oklahoma State 405–744–7086
University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Oregon * Portland: Lewis & Clark 503–768–6786
College
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Pennsylvania * Philadelphia: The Free 215–686–5331
Library of Philadelphia
Pittsburgh: The Carnegie 412–622–3138
Library of Pittsburgh
University Park: Pattee 814–865–4861
Library, Pennsylvania
State University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Puerto Rico Mayaguez: General Library, 787–832–4040
University of Puerto Rico Ext. 3459
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Rhode Island Providence Public Library 401–455–8027
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
South Carolina Clemson: R.M. Cooper 864–656–3024
Library, Clemson
University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
South Dakota Rapid City: Devereaux 605–394–1275
Library, South Dakota
School of Mines &
Technology
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Tennessee Memphis & Shelby County 901–725–8877
Public Library and
Information Center
Nashville: Stevenson Science 615–322–2717
and Engineering Library,
Vanderbilt University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Texas Austin: McKinney Engineering 512–495–4500
Library, The University of
Texas at Austin
* College Station: Sterling 409–845–3826
C. Evans Library, Texas
A&M University
* Dallas Public Library 214–670–1468
Houston: The Fondren 713–527–8101
Library, Rice University Ext. 2587
Lubbock: Texas Tech 806–742–2282
University Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Utah * Salt Lake City: Marriott 801–581–8394
Library, University of
Utah
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Vermont Burlington: Bailey Howe 802–656–2542
Library, University of
Vermont
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Virginia * Richmond: James Branch 804–828–1104
Cabell Library, Virginia
Commonwealth University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Washington * Seattle: Engineering 206–543–0740
Library, University of
Washington
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
West Virginia Morgantown: Evansdale 304–293–2510
Library, West Virginia Ext. 113
University
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Wisconsin Madison: Kurt F. Wendt 608–262–6845
Library, University of
Wisconsin-Madison
Milwaukee Public Library 414–286–3051
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Wyoming Casper: Natrona County 307–237–4935
Public Library
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
_Note: * Denotes APS-Text access; ** denotes partnership PTDL.
Partnership Libraries have access to APS-Text, APS-Image, and
X-Search._