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Patents

If you have the patent number:

Use the Patent Office Full-Text and Full Image Database

If you know the inventor or holder's name:

(1976-present) - Use the Patent Office Full-Text and Full Image Database
(1926-1975) - Index of Patents, part 1
Index of Patents, part 1 (C 21.5/2:yr.)
(1874-1925 ) - Use the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents
Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents (C 21.1:yr.)

If you have an idea you want to patent:

Step 1: Use Index to the U.S. Patent Classification (C 21.12/2:)
Index to the U.S. Patent Classification (C 21.12/2:). Gives general class/sub-class numbers.
Step 2: Use Manual of Classification
Gives detailed breakdown of class/sub-class numbers.
Step 3 - Class Definitions
Class Definitions - gives more explicit definition of class/sub-class numbers. Gives other classes/sub-classes to search
Step 4 - Search Patent Database for similar patents
Step 4 - Search the Patent Database for similar patents. Since you now have the class and sub-class numbers you can even find patents back to 1790!
Step 5 - Use either the Patent Database or the Official Gazette (C 21.5:)
Use Patent Database or the Official Gazette in print (C 21.5:). Carefully read the patents and patent abstracts to see if they are similar to what you've invented. Request full texts from VCU via InterLibrary Loan as appropriate.