PRODUCTS   
Products and Services > Public Search Facilities
Search Facility Bulletin - (public user's source for current facility and collections information)

Searching Patents and Trademark


Rules of conduct in USPTO facilities (i.e., FIU ,PSF,STIC)
Conduct in Public Information Facilities (09/05) [PDF-64KB]


Arlington Map [PDF-2.19 MB]
Alexandria Map [PDF-1.2 MB]
Federal Holidays
Federal Operating Status
Public Search Facility Web Page Content available for download [PDF - 1.47 MB]
Metro On-line Trip Planner
>> Download PDF Viewer <<
PUBLIC SEARCH FACILITY IN ALEXANDRIA, VA

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Public Search Facility located in Alexandria, VA provides public access to patent and trademark information in a variety of formats including on-line, microfilm, and print. Trained staff are available to assist public users. to top of page

Patents
State of the art computer workstations provide automated searching of patents issued from 1790 to the current week of issue using the patent examiner systems Web-based Examiner Search Tool, (WEST) and Examiner Automated Search Tool (EAST), the USPTO web site, and related applications. Full document text may be searched on U.S. patents issued since 1971 and OCR text from 1920 to 1970. U. S. patent images from 1790 to the present may be retrieved for viewing or printing. Some foreign patent documents may be searched using EAST and WEST.

Official Gazettes, Annual Indexes (of Inventors), the Manual of Classification and its subject matter index, and other search aids are available in various formats. to top of page

Patent assignment records of transactions affecting the ownership of patents, microfilmed deeds, and indexes are also available.

Trademarks
On-line searching of pending, registered, and dead trademarks is available using the trademark examining attorney automated systems X-Search, Trademark Image Capture System (TICRS), and the Trademark Reporting and Monitoring System (TRAM), and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board VUE (TTABVUE). A complete trademark registration collection is available on-line and in bound paper volumes in numerical order or on microfilm since 1870. to top of page

Official Gazettes, trademark assignment records of transactions affecting trademark ownership, microfilmed deeds, and indexes are also available.

Hours of Operation - Alexandria
The USPTO Public Search Facility in Alexandria, VA is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Closed weekends and Federal Holidays.) Refer to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) web site for current Washington area federal government operating status information. to top of page

Location - Alexandria

Public Search Facility - Madison East, 1st Floor
600 Dulany St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
For additional information, please call 571-272-3275.

Driving Directions to the Alexandria Facility from Crystal City
Drive south on Jefferson Davis Hwy. (Route 1). Make a right on Duke St. (236). Turn left onto Holland Lane at the traffic light, turn right onto Emerson Ave., and proceed 1 block to the parking garage entrance. See map.to top of page

Parking in Alexandria
Daily and hourly parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the East Garage from 5:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except Federal holidays. Use the John Carlyle St. entrance only. The parking garage is locked at 10:30 p.m.

Customers will receive a ticket each time they enter the garage and will pay each time they leave the garage. Lost tickets pay maximum daily rate. Daily customers may pay in cash or by credit card (no checks). to top of page

Metro Directions to Alexandria Facility
The King St. station is served by yellow and blue line trains. The Eisenhower Ave. station is served by yellow line trains. The Public Search Facility is at lobby level in the East Wing of the Madison Building in the center of the complex.


TRADEMARK SEARCH FACILITY IN ARLINGTON, VA

The classified trademark printed registration file is housed at the Trademark Search Facility in Arlington, VA. Photocopiers and workstations are available at this site. to top of page

Hours of Operation - Arlington
The USPTO Trademark Search Facility in Arlington, VA is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed weekends and Federal Holidays.) Refer to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) web site for current Washington area federal government operating status information.

Location - Arlington

Trademark Search Facility - South Tower, 2nd Floor
2900 Crystal Dr.
Arlington, VA 22202
For additional information, please call 703-308-9800. to top of page

Metro Directions to Arlington Facility
The Trademark Search Facility is located in the Crystal City complex in room 2B30 on the second floor of the South Tower building. Yellow and blue line trains serve the Crystal City and National Airport stations. From the Crystal City Metro walk south along Crystal Dr. From National Airport walk 1 block southwest on ramp. Bear right on Smith Blvd. and walk northwest to State Highway 233. Walk straight 2 blocks and turn left on Crystal Dr. Walk 1 block south.

Parking in Arlington
Daily parking is available in the South Tower garage and at parking meters on Crystal Dr. to top of page


GENERAL INFORMATION

SMART card ID badges are required to pass through security access checkpoints in either Public Search Facility. Badges are obtained from the USPTO Security Service Center in room 1C51 on the lobby level of the Madison building at the Alexandria campus from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors must present a valid photo ID to be issued an access badge.

Reference Assistance
Trained Staff are available to assist users with questions during all open hours at no charge.to top of page

On-line Service Cards
On-line Service Cards are used to access on-line systems. These may be obtained at either Search Facility Reception Desk on a user's first visit. A valid government issued photo ID, such as a driver's license with a current address, must be provided to verify user information. to top of page

Fees
There are no fees for use of automated systems.

On-line print fees of $0.25 per page, $0.50 per page from color printers, are collected at the workstation via on-line UPWS accounts. to top of page

Microfilm print fees and self service photocopies are $0.25 per page using a USPTO debit card. Purchase debit cards on-site at the Cashier Window.

Cashier Window
Funds may be added to on-line accounts and existing debit cards at the Search Facility Cashier Window. New debit cards are issued with a one-time fee of $1.00 per card. Cash, checks, credit cards, and USPTO deposit accounts are accepted. to top of page

Public Training
Training is recommended before patrons use the on-line examiner search systems. See the training schedule below or call 571-272-3275. to top of page

To enroll in a class, public users may apply in person at the Public Search Facility, on-line, or by mail. A fee of $25.00 per student must be pre-paid and is non-refundable.

Complete the training application form (see links below) indicating your method of payment and your first and second choice of class dates. You will be notified of your confirmed class date. to top of page

Mail class fees to:

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
ATTN: PSF Public Training
Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

Arrive one half-hour before class to obtain an On-line Service Card and password at the Public Search Facility in Alexandria. Bring a photo ID with your current home address, such as a driver's license or a passport. to top of page

Web-based Examiner Search Tool (WEST)

This WEST patent class covers all basic text search features, from keyboard and Boolean logic to command functions and index searching.  Practice time is also included.  This is a seven-hour class given once a month.

formsApplication for WEST Training [PDF - 14 KB]

Examiner Assisted Search Tool (EAST)

The EAST patent class is a fast-paced course for users with on-line database and Boolean logic experience.  Text searching using indexes and the use of the browser screen for rapid patent retrieval.  This is a four-hour class given once a month. to top of page

formsApplication for EAST Training [PDF - 14 KB]

Trademark X-Search

X-Search is the automated search and retrieval system for U.S. Trademark text and/or designs.  A three-hour training course is conducted at least once a month.  The X-Search class is recommended, but not mandatory, before accessing the trademark system. to top of page

formsApplication for X-Search Training [PDF - 12 KB]

Training Schedule
Month WEST EAST X-Search
January 2008 9th 10th 8th
February 2008 6th 7th 12th
March 2008 5th 6th 11th
April 2008 2nd 3rd 8th
May 2008 7th 8th 13th
June 2008 4th 5th 10th
July 2008 9th 10th 8th
August 2008 6th 7th 12th
September 2008 3rd 4th 9th
October 2008 1st 2nd 7th
November 2008 5th 6th 4th
December 2008 3rd 4th 9th

Public user training is held at the Alexandria campus. Please report to the Public Search Facility in Madison East one half-hour before class so you may obtain an On-line Service Card and password. to top of page


REMOTE ACCESS

Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries
The nation-wide network of Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries (PTDLs) offer access to patent and trademark reference materials and search tools. Trained staff are available to assist public users.

To locate a PTDL near you, visit the USPTO web site at Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program (PTDLP) page or call 800-786-9199. to top of page

Internet Access
Patent and trademark data is searchable on the internet without coming to the USPTO campus. See the USPTO web site at www.uspto.gov.

The Patent database has patent images from 1790 to the current week of issue retrievable by patent number and current U.S. Patent Classification, and text searchable from 1975 to the current issue week. to top of page

Public PAIR (Patent Application and Information Retrieval) offers access to approximately 500,000 patent applications not covered by confidentiality laws. New applications are added to the database 18 months after filing. See oure Biz PAIR Portal.

Track the status of a public patent application as it moves from publication to final disposition, and review documents in the official application file, including all patent examiner decisions. A quick-click feature for ordering certified copies of patent applications and application files is included on the site. to top of page

The Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) contains pending, registered, and dead trademarks. See e Biz TESS.

The Public Search Facility bulletin, Searching Patent and Trademarks [PDF - 42.5 KB], provides public users with information about facilities and collections.

to top of pageTop

You are here Public Search Facilities: Locations, Hours of Operation, & Services
Public Search Facility
  - Patents
  - Trademarks
  - Hours of Operation
  - Location
  - Driving Directions
  - Parking
  - Metro Directions
Trademark Paper Facility
  - Hours of Operation
  - Location
  - Metro Directions
  - Parking
Public Training Facility
Facility Access Requirements
On-line Service Card
  - How to get one
  - How to replace a lost card
Automated Search Systems Fees

Search Systems Training
Fees
How to enroll
Schedule
Enrollment Applications
  - formsWEST [PDF - 33 KB]
  - formsEAST [PDF - 33 KB]
  - formsX-Search [PDF - 29 KB]


You are here Scientific & Technical Information Center
Main Branch/ Biotechnology & Chemical Library

 

KEY: e Biz=online business system fees=fees forms=formshelp=help laws and regs=laws/regulations definition=definition (glossary)
Is there a question about what the USPTO can or cannot do that you cannot find an answer for? Send questions about USPTO programs and services to the USPTO Contact Center (UCC). You can suggest USPTO webpages or material you would like featured on this section by E-mail to the webmaster@uspto.gov. While we cannot promise to accommodate all requests, your suggestions will be considered and may lead to other improvements on the website.

|.HOME | SITE INDEX| SEARCH | eBUSINESS | HELP | PRIVACY POLICY