Locks Patent Search

[zikmik]

Google Patent Search
Search over 7 million patents

http://www.google.com/patents

Put key word (lock, pick, padlock, impressioning, etc...) and preview and download for free PDF patent - NO LOGIN IS NEEDED

Info: http://www.google.com/googlepatents/help.html

[Abus]

I like google patent, but to search international ones, the only efficient way is to look for PCT cases using WIPO:

http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/search-adv.jsp

[greyman]

There might be over 7,000,000 patents on locks on this database, but the real question is how many different patents are there? By different, I mean not a rehash of an existing patent applied for in another country. It's not unusual to find 5 copies of the same patent with different numbers due to being patented in various places.

[greyman]

There might be over 7,000,000 patents on locks on this database, but the real question is how many different patents are there? By different, I mean not a rehash of an existing patent applied for in another country. It's not unusual to find 5 copies of the same patent with different numbers due to being patented in various places.

Oops! I just reread the original thread and have to correct my figures. It wasn't 7,000,000 lock patents. I'd say it's still a large number though, and my previous comment is still applicable.

[Abus]

Well, the whole point of the patent system implies that there's only one patent on each invention in a given country, so that there should be identical ones.

Though to be fair, the vast majority of lock patents are pretty useless, as they either corresponded to locks that were never produced, questionably useful tools, etc.