The following links are available for your consideration and may be useful.
Google patents (https://www.google.com/?tbm=pts)
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Search Engine (uspto.gov)
World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Search Engine (http://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/search.jsf)
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Search Engine (uspto.gov)
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Information (http://www.uspto.gov/inventors/patents.jsp)
Wikipedia on Patents (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent)
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Information (http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/BasicFacts.pdf)
More Information from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/)
Wikipedia on Trademarks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark)