Federal and state government agencies are major sources of geoscience publications, data, and maps. The following provides a non-exhaustive listing of websites:
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
State Resources
Global Resources
According the the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patent Essentials "a U.S. patent gives you, the inventor, the right to “exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling” an invention or “importing” it into the U.S.". These are effective only within the U.S. and its territories.
Examples of things that could be patented in the geosciences are samplers, sensors, methods, and products (USGS Active Patents).
Use this Google tool to search for patents.