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IPC - International Patent Classification Basics

IPC - International Patent Classification Basics. Basics of IPC. The following presentation addresses: ► Elements of IPC scheme: - symbols, hierarchy, titles - other elements of IPC scheme (references, notes, etc.) ► Scope, filescope, effective scope of IPC places.

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IPC - International Patent Classification Basics

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  1. IPC - International Patent ClassificationBasics

  2. Basics of IPC The following presentation addresses: ► Elements of IPC scheme: - symbols, hierarchy, titles - other elements of IPC scheme (references, notes, etc.) ► Scope, filescope, effective scope of IPC places

  3. Tree-like hierarchy IPC hierarchical structure Sections 8 Classes Classes Classes 129 Subclasses Subclasses Subclasses Subclasses Subclasses 640 Groups Groups Groups Groups Groups Groups Groups Groups Groups 70,000

  4. Symbols and Titles • Each place/entry (Section, Class, Subclass, Group) is characterized by a symbol and a title • Symbol = succession of upper case letters and numbers • Title = phrase describing the technical content (scope) of the place • G PHYSICS • A 47 H Furnishings for windows or doors • A 01 J Manufacture of dairy products • A 01 K 31/00 Housing birds

  5. IPC Internet Publication Symbol Definition Catchword Index Bridge

  6. IPC hierarchical structure ► hierarchical top level: 8 Sections

  7. Class = second hierarchical level below the section Class symbol = Section symbol followed by two digits The Class title gives a broad indication of the content of the class Section A HUMAN NECESSITIES Class A 01 AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL; Class A 21 BAKING; EDIBLE DOUGHS Class A 22 BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; … Classes

  8. Subclasses Subclass symbol= Class symbol followed by a letter Subclass titleindicates the content of the subclass as precisely as possible • A 47 FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL • A 47 B Tables; Desks; Office furniture; Cabinets; Drawers; General details of furniture • A 47 C Chairs; Sofas; Beds • A 47 D Furniture specially adapted for children

  9. Main Groups and Subgroups • Group symbol = Subclass symbol followed by one to • three digits + "/" + two to six digits • A 01 K 31/00 Housing birds • A 01 K 31/02 . Door appliances; Automatic door-openers • A 01 K 31/04 . Dropping-boards; Devices for removing excrement • A 01 K 31/06 . Cages • A 01 K 31/07 . . Transportable cages • A 01 K 31/08 . . Collapsible cages Main group (XX/00)

  10. Main group part Subgroup part IPC group symbols A23G 9/02 ► complete group symbol; consists of different components A ....................... Section (A, B, ... H) A23 ....................... Class (any 2 digits) A23G ....................... Subclass (any letter) A23G 9/02 ............ Group

  11. IPC group symbols ►Two types of groups: Main groups Subgroups of main groups A23G 9/00 ........... Main group xxx/00 xxx= 1 to 999 A23G 9/02 ........... Subgroup xxx/yy (yy ≠ 00) xxx/yyyyyy

  12. Hierarchical Structure of groups Hierarchical level of groups indicatedby number of dots(indentation level)not by the Group Symbol 1/00 T 1/02 . T11/04 . . T21/06 . . . T31/08 . T41/10 . T51/12 . . T6 The content of group 1/12 (2 dots) should be seen as a subset of group 1/10 (1 dot) which is a subset of group 1/00 (main group)

  13. IPC hierarchical structure H Section H05 H01 H02 Class H01B H01F Subclass H01T H01F 87/00 H01F 1/00 H01F 3/00 Main group H01F 1/44 H01F 1/01 Subgroup

  14. 6,592 documents Section Class Subclass Maingroup Subgroups  12th level 90 docs ►sufficiently small numbers 111 docs

  15. Hierarchy of Subgroups ►Level of hierarchy: indicated by dots number of dots > indentation level, hierarchical level > Independent ofnumbering of subgroups ! G01N 33/483 • • Physical analysis of biological material 33/487 • • • of liquid biological material 33/49 • • • • blood 33/50 •• Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood Lesson: Hierarchical level is independent of the symbol

  16. Numbering of subgroups • Numbering does not determine hierarchical level • Numbering determines sequential/presentation order of subgroups „ / “ can be interpreted as decimal point 0s are ommitted after second digit Example: y = 1/23 > 1.23 y = 34/02 > 34.02 G01N 33/483 • • Physical analysis of biological material 33/487 • • • of liquid biological material 33/49 • • • • blood 33/50 •• Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood (33.483) (33.487) (33.49)

  17. Questions • Q1. Is A47D 7/01 placed in a hierarchically lower level than A47D 7/00? • Q2. Is A61B 5/097 placed after A61B 5/11? • Q3. Is an imaginary symbol K01A 1/10 placed in a hierarchically higher level than K01A 1/12? • What about the relationship between K01A 1/10 and K01A 1/104? • Q4. Is K01A 1/10 placed before or after K01A 1/12 ?

  18. Answers • A1. Yes A47D 7/00 Children's beds A47D 7/01 ·with adjustable parts • A2. No (5.097 < 5.11) • A3. Unknown; depends on number of dots. • Ex.1 A42B 1/00 Footwear characterised by the material A42B 1/10 ·Footwear made of rubber A42B 1/12 · · of rubber waste • Ex.2 A23G 1/00 Cocoa; Cocoa products, e.g. chocolate ; … A23G 1/04 · Apparatus specially adapted for manufacture or treatment of cocoa or cocoa products A23G 1/10 · · Mixing apparatus; Roller mills for preparing chocolate A23G 1/12 · · Chocolate-refining mills, i.e. roll refiners • Ex.3 A42B 1/00 Hats; Caps; Hoods A42B 1/04 · Soft caps; Hoods A42B 1/08 · · with protection against blows … A42B 1/10 · · ·Miners' caps A42B 1/12 · · Bathing caps • A4. Before (1.10 < 1.12) Hierarchically higher level Hierarchically lower level

  19. Synonyms Titles and scope ►Some terminology  Symbol + Title build / form IPC entry IPC place classification place  The Scope of IPC entry (place) is: The technical subject matter that is covered by this place

  20. Examples of titles Multi part titles: separated by “;“ > accumulation of different subject matter A 47 AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING A01J Manufacture of dairy products A01C Planting; Sowing; Fertilising A47D Furniture specially adapted for children Single part title

  21. Subgroup titles  A01K 31/00 Housing birds : 31/06 . Cages 31/07 . . Transportable cages (31/08 takes precedence) 31/08 . . Collapsible cages • upper case first letters: Titles can be read independently. Always within the scope of hierarchy.  H01S 3/00 Lasers 3/14 .characterised by the material used as the active medium • lower case: titles read as continuation of hierarchically higher title

  22. Dots and titles • Dots also used in place of titles of hierarchically superior groups to avoid repetitions • A01K 31/00 Housing birds • : • 31/06 . Cages • 31/07 . . Transportable cages • 31/08 . . Collapsible • A01K 31/08 should be read as: • “Collapsible cages for housing birds”

  23. Attention ! B64C AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS 5/00 Stabilising surfaces 5/06 . Fins 5/08 . mounted on, or supported by, wings 5/10 . adjustable Combined titles: 5/08 . Stabilising surfaces mounted on, or supported by, wings 5/10 . Adjustable stabilising surfaces

  24. Scope of IPC Groups • ►Scope (content) is defined by titles •  Sections, Classes: titles only broadly indicative of content • Subclasses, groups: titles define content as precisely as possible N.B.: Scope of a group is always defined by title of the group + scope of hierarchically higher places e.g.: H01S 3/00 Lasers : H01S 3/05 . Construction or shape of optical resonators

  25. Example Section: A HUMAN NECESSITIES Class: A47 FURNITURE … Subclass: A47C CHAIRS Main group: A47C1/00 Chairs adapted for special purposes one‑dot subgroup: 1/02 . Reclining or easy chairs two‑dot subgroup: 1/022 . . having independently-adjustable supporting parts three‑dot subgroup: 1/028 . . . for changing a straight chair into an easy chair four‑dot subgroup: 1/029 . . . . by changing the length or the inclination of the legs A47C1/029 reads “Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts for changing a straight chair into an easy chair by changing the length or the inclination of the legs”

  26. Questions • Q1. Try to combine the title of the following group and its hierarchical predecessors to single title: • A01B 3/421 • Q2. Try to combine the title of the following group and its hierarchical predecessors to single title: • A01B 13/12

  27. Answers • A1. Turn-wrest ploughs • mounted on tractors • with a headstock frame made in one piece • Hint: Use the hierarchic view mode and search the symbol; you will see only the symbol and the hierarchical higher places which you have to combine. • A2. Ploughs • for working subsoil • having special implements for lifting subsoil layers • with means for distributing the layers on the surface • or • Special implements for lifting subsoil layers • with means for distributing the layers on the surface • for ploughs • for working subsoil

  28. Scope of IPC Groups Example (circles symbolize scope, ie technical area covered by group) 1/00 T 1/02 . T1 1/04 . . T2 1/06 . . . T3 1/08 . T4 1/10 . T5 1/12 . . T6 Here: Scopes at same hierarchy are mutually exclusive; i.e. no overlap

  29. Scope of IPC Groups (example) 4/04 4/08 4/06 4/10 4/14 4/18 4/16 4/20 A23N 4/00 Machines for stoning fruit or removing seed-containing sections from fruit, characterised by their stoning or removing device A23N 4/02 · for stoning fruit A23N 4/04 · · for peaches, plums, apricots or the like A23N 4/06 · · for cherries or the like A23N 4/08 · · for dates, olives or the like oblong fruits A23N 4/10 · · for fruit with very small pips, e.g. raisins A23N 4/12 · for coring fruit A23N 4/14 · · for apples, pears or the like A23N 4/16 · · for tomatoes or the like A23N 4/18 · · for citrus fruits A23N 4/20 · · for pineapples A23N 4/22 · for both splitting and stoning A23N 4/24 · for removing seed-containing sections from cut fruit 4/00 4/02 4/12 4/22 4/24

  30. 1/00 1/04 1/08 Scope of IPC Groups • Mutually exclusive scopes are ideal situations • Overlap is possible G02B 1/00 Optical elements 1/02 1/04 . made of organic materials 1/06 1/08 . made of polarising materials

  31. Filescope ►Some more terminology: Filescope of an IPC group: > Scope of the group minus the scope of all its subgroups > i.e. represents documents actually classified in a particular IPC group

  32. File scope of IPC Groups 1/08 1/04 1/00 1/00 Scope of 1/00 File scope of 1/00

  33. Elements of IPC scheme Classification places: Symbol + Title + Hierarchy References: > Statements in brackets referring to another place in the Classification > show that the subject matter indicated by the reference is covered by the place reffrred to > apply to the place where they appear and to all hierarchically lower places

  34. Examples of references B64C AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS (air-cushion vehicles B60V) Reference B64C 5/00 Stabilising surfaces (attaching stabilising surfaces to fuselage B64C 1/26) 5/06 . Fins (specially for wings B64C 5/08) 5/08 . mounted on, or supported by, wings A01D 69/00 Driving mechanisms or parts thereof for harvesters or mowers (driving mechanisms for the cutters of mowers or harvesters A01D 34/00) A01B 35/00 Other machines for working soil (A01B 37/00, A01B 39/00, A01B 77/00 take precedence)

  35. References ►Two categories of references Limiting references: > they limit the scope of a place, in order to avoid overlap (e.g. A01D 69/00) Informative references: > point to other similar subject matter, usually in other subclasses (similarity but no overlap)

  36. References Limiting references: > “exclude specified subject matter from the scope of a classification place, when this subject matter would otherwise fulfill all the requirements of the classification place, i.e. would otherwise be covered by that place.” > relevant to classification Informative references: > “indicate the location of (similar) subject matter that could be of interest for searching, but which subject matter is not within the scope of the classification place where the reference occurs.” > relevant to search

  37. References Precedence references: > references stating that another place “takes precedence” > used when subject matter is classifiable in two places, and it is desired that such subject matter should be classified in only one of those places > a type of limiting reference (see next slide) Application-type references: > references from function-oriented places (general) to application-oriented places (places where their subject matter is covered if it is specially adapted, used for a particular purpose or incorporated in a larger system)

  38. Precedence references Overlap eliminated by reference G02B 1/00 Optical elements 1/02 1/04 . made of organic materials (1/08 takes precedence) 1/06 1/08 . made of polarising materials Special case of limiting reference Alternative wording: G02B 1/04 . - - - (optical elementsmade of polarising material G02B 1/08) 1/08 1/04 1/00

  39. Removal of non-limiting references from the scheme Limiting or informative references are not identified as such in scheme > Ambiguity Non-limiting references are progressively being removed from the scheme and transferred to the Definitions This will abolish ambiguity; any reference in the scheme will in future be regarded as limiting

  40. Elements of IPC scheme Notes: > Define the scope of places This place covers ... This place does not cover ... > Define terminology (B22F, G02) > Indicate classification rules (note 5 after G01R) > Separate statements after entries > Apply only to the place where they are, including all hierarchically lower places

  41. Notes • F42 • Note(s) • This class covers also means for practice or training which may have aspects of simulation, although simulators are generally covered by class G09. • … • B22F • Note(s) • This subclass covers the making of metallic powder only insofar as powder with specific physical characteristics is made. • …

  42. Notes • A61P SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS  [7]   • Note(s) • This subclass covers therapeutic activity of chemical compounds or medicinal preparations already classified as such in subclasses A61K or C12N, or in classes C01, C07 or C08. [7] • In this subclass, the term "drugs" includes chemical compounds or compositions with therapeutic activity. [7] • In this subclass, therapeutic activity is classified in all appropriate places. [7] • The classification symbols of this subclass are not listed first when assigned to patent documents. [7]

  43. Notes • A61K 8/00 Cosmetics or similar toilet preparations  [8] • Note(s) • Use of cosmetics or similar toilet preparations is further classified in subclass A61Q. [8] • A61K 8/02 ·  characterised by special physical form  [8]   • Note(s) • In this group, in the absence of an indication of the contrary, classification is made in the last appropriate place. [8]   • A61K 8/03 ·  ·  Liquid compositions with two or more distinct layers  [8]   • A61K 8/04 ·  ·  Dispersions; Emulsions  [8]   • A61K 8/06 ·  ·  ·  Emulsions  [8]

  44. Elements of IPC scheme • Subsections • Subclass and class indexes • Guidance headings • Classification places: symbol + title + hierarchy • References • Notes Facilitate use of IPC

  45. Elements of IPC scheme • Subsections • Subclass and class indexes • Guidance headings • Classification places: Symbol + Title + Hierarchy • References • Notes Determine effective scope of groups

  46. IPC Subsections • Subsections are informative headings without symbol separating Classes of similar content Section A HUMAN NECESSITIES SubsectionAGRICULTURE Class A 0l AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL … SubsectionFOODSTUFFS; TOBACCO Class A 2l BAKING; EDIBLE DOUGHSClass A 22 BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; … Class A 24 TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES

  47. Guidance Headings • Guidance Headings are underlined titles indicating the common subject matter of the following groups until the next guidance heading or horizontal line • A24FTobacco pipes1/00 Tobacco pipes • 3/00 Tobacco pipes combined with other objects • Component parts or accessories for pipes; Mouthpieces5/00 Bowls for pipes • 7/00 Mouthpieces for pipes; Mouthpieces for cigar or cigarette holders …

  48. Guidance Headings Guidance heading Holizontal line

  49. Subclass Index • Subclass Index is an informative summary giving a broad survey of the content of the subclass.

  50. Questions • Q5. In main group A 47 C 1/00, where would you classify: (a)devices for reserving a theatre chair? (b)a theatre chair tipping upwards? (c)devices for reserving a beach chair? • Q6. In B26D, where would you classify cutting several slices of tomato at one time with a circular knife? • Q7. In B 21 C, where would you classify manufacture of uncoated finned tubes by backward extrusion? • Q8. In A 47 G, clothes hangers are in 25/00 and subordinate groups. Where would you classify a wire clothes hanger? Not in B 21 F 45/02, which takes the method.

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