Cal VanSant
I have been working in the patent field since 1986 and have always strived to be on the cutting edge of the technology involved in the patenting process, from CAD systems customized to create shaded patent drawings to tweaking search systems to get to the good stuff faster. I have worked in corporate patent departments supporting patent attorneys scattered around the world and, since 1999, as an independent patent resource to corporations and law firms. I truly enjoy the process of finding the proverbial "needle-in-a-haystack" when sifting through piles of patent data.

One of the benefits of being an independent searcher is I get exposed to a fantastic variety of different technologies. Working for Fortune 500 companies and top IP law firms allows me to constantly expand the number of art areas where I can search proficiently. My formal training is in mechanical and electrical engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology, though I am still a few credits short of my degree. I am working on getting those last few classes behind me.

The bulk of my searches are in the mechanical and electrical areas. If you need a search outside of my areas of technical expertise, the search can be completed by one of the expert searchers I work with in the public search room.

I split my time between my office in Lancaster county Pennsylvania and a second office in Alexandria, VA. I spend three to four days a week at the US patent office. If you are ever on the patent office campus, stop by and visit me, my workstation is near the help desk on the second floor of the Public Search Room (Madison East building).