ENC 3254: Professional Communication for Engineers  Tags: engineering  

The UF Libraries have full text of:

* All current IEEE standards through the IEEE/IEE Electronic Library (IEL).

* 2006 Annual Book of ASTM Standards in the Science Library, Reference (main floor) TA 401 .A653. Many older ASTM standards on 4th floor.

* 2007 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section II - Materials online via Knovel.

* ANSI University Outreach Program for ISO and IEC Standards - instructors must enroll.

See what standards organizations do, and purchase standards not available through the library.  Many more options on the Standards Guide.

Patent websites vary in coverage. Some only have full text or images for recent years. Some have better quality images than others. In some search engines, keywords only work on recent years. If you are doing a full, deep, and serious search, be sure to identify and search on the patent classifications (see details on the Patents Guide) as well as keywords.

There are three types of U.S. patents:
1) Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof;
2) Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture; and
3) Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.
(from USPTO website)

... and patents include definitions of terms used. Remember, though, that patents are written by attorneys and not by engineers!

US Patent 6,503,385 for backpack with umbrella support