(0)ENT:255/0:

V.       MATTER TO BE CLASSIFIED OR INDEXED; PRESENTATION OF CLASSIFICATION SYMBOLS AND INDEXING CODES; X-NOTATIONS

82.

 The primary purpose of the Classification is, as noted in paragraph 2, above, to facilitate search. For this purpose each separate technical subject disclosed in a patent document should be classified if it is of interest for search purposes.

INVENTION INFORMATION; ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

83.

 Patent documents
 

(a)

 comprise "invention information", i.e., technical information as defined by the claims, with due regard given to the description and the drawings (if any). The classification symbols allotted should not be restricted to the place or places in the Classification which cover only one aspect of a technical subject identified. Due regard should also be given to further places in the Classification where other non-trivial aspects of that technical subject may need to be classified;
 

(b)

 may comprise "additional information", i.e., non-trivial technical information given in the description, which is not claimed and does not form part of the invention as such but might constitute useful information for the searcher.

REPRESENTATION OF INVENTION INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

84.

 The invention information is represented either by classification symbols alone or by both classification symbols and indexing codes. The additional information is represented by classification symbols, by indexing codes or by both.

85.

 Classification symbols from any place in the Classification, together with any indexing codes associated with those symbols, may be used for indicating additional information.

OBLIGATORY CLASSIFICATION

86.

 According to Article 4(3) of the Strasbourg Agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification, in classifying a patent document, the competent authorities of the countries of the Special Union shall indicate "the complete symbols of the Classification applied to the invention to which the patent document relates". This means that it is an obligation on the part of the said authorities to allot the classification symbols which represent the invention information (see paragraph 83(a), above).

NON-OBLIGATORY CLASSIFICATION; NON-OBLIGATORY INDEXING

87.

 In order to improve the benefits to be derived from the Classification, it is desirable that the invention information, as defined in paragraph 83(a), above, be indexed, if possible, and that also the additional information, as defined in paragraph 83(b), above, be classified or indexed, since, upon publication of the patent document concerned, such information about the technical disclosure may be relevant, for example, for future patent applications. The indication of such information is particularly important for patent documents published at the first publication level.

PRESENTATION OF CLASSIFICATION SYMBOLS AND INDEXING CODES

88.

 The order of classification symbols and indexing codes is as follows:
 

1.

 Classification symbols repesenting invention information, of which that symbol which most adequately represents the invention should be listed first.
 

2.

 After a double oblique stroke -
 

(i)

 classification symbols representing additional information
 

(ii)

 linked indexing codes
 

(iii)

 unlinked indexing codes.
 

If the listing of symbols or codes following the double oblique stroke commences on a new line, the double oblique stroke should be printed on that line immediately before those symbols and codes.

89.

 All symbols and codes are separated from each other by commas, but no comma is needed before or after the bracket used for a set of linked indexing codes. When two or more symbols or codes, relating to the same subclass, are listed consecutively, the subclass symbol is indicated only for the first symbol or code; for the following symbol(s) or code(s) only the numbers identifying the groups are indicated, separated by commas, except that for the first symbol within a bracket the subclass symbol must be repeated.

90.

 Examples illustrating the presentation of classification symbols and indexing codes:
 

These symbols and codes indicate

1.

 C 08 F 210/16, 255/04 // A 61 K 47/00, C 09 J 151/06 (C 08 F 210/16, 214:06) (C 08 F 255/04, 214:06)
 
 

-

 two classification symbols representing invention information, C 08 F 210/16 and C 08 F 255/04;
 

-

 two classification symbols representing additional information, A 61 K 47/00 and C 09 J 151/06;
 

-

 two sets of linked indexing codes, (C 08 F 210/16, 214:06) and (C 08 F 255/04, 214:06), which indicate, respectively, that the ethene-propene copolymer, besides the already indicated monomers, contains vinyl chloride, and that vinyl chloride has been polymerized on to an ethene-propene copolymer.
 

2.

 B 29 C 65/08 // B 29 K 83:00, B 29 L 23:18 These symbols and codes indicate
 

-

 one classification symbol representing invention information, B 29 C 65/08, concerning the working of plastics by joining preformed parts using ultrasonic means;
 

-

 two unlinked indexing codes, B 29 K 83:00 and B 29 L 23:18, which indicate, respectively, that the material extruded is a silicon-containing polymer and that the article formed is a pleated hose.

X-NOTATIONS

91.

 As patent applications are intended to deal with new developments it is unavoidable that from time to time subject matter appears that cannot be dealt with satisfactorily in the Classification, for example, a new art, which is not covered by an existing place. Because it is nevertheless necessary that such subject matter be classified, the X-notation has been provided for use in such cases.

92.

 The letter "X" is added to the classification symbol and may denote either of the following two things:
 

(a)

 When added to a subclass (e.g., A 01 B X), a class (e.g., A 01 X) or a section (e.g., A X), or in an extreme case used alone (X), it means that the classification symbol, while covering the subject matter fully, is incomplete, and it replaces the part of the symbol that could not be indicated because there was no satisfactory classification. Thus, D 06 X could be used to classify a technical subject of an invention concerning the treatment of textiles which cannot be classified in any of the existing subclasses of class D 06.
 

(b)

 When added to a main group, it indicates that the classification given is imprecise, and that the group in question has been used because it comes closest to the subject matter classified without corresponding to it exactly. Thus, G 01 N 3/00 X could be used to classify a technical subject of an invention concerning investigating strength properties of semi-liquid substances through the application of mechanical stress, whereas group 3/00 covers such investigating applied to solid materials.

93.

 The use of the "X" indicates an insufficiency in the Classification, a fact that is important for its revision. For this reason, all assignments of X-notations should be notified to the International Bureau of WIPO.

 

 

VI.       GLOSSARY

94.

 The terms or expressions in this Glossary are selected from those used in the Classification, as requiring some explanation of their meaning or use, for example, because of a need for choice between alternative meanings. The explanations given should not be regarded as rigid definitions. The meaning of a term or an expression should always be considered in the context of the technical subject matter dealt with.

95.

 Attention is drawn to the definitions of certain words and expressions which are set forth earlier in the Guide, e.g., in paragraphs 31 to 42.

96.

 The term "object" is used in these explanations to mean any tangible technical matter, e.g., article of manufacture, apparatus, piece of material.

97.

 The term "thing" is used to mean any technical matter, tangible or not, e.g., process, product or apparatus.

98.

 Any definitions given in notes in the Classification override, for the places concerned, the explanations given in this Glossary.

(A) = adjective; (N) = noun; (V) = verb.

99.

 The following abbreviations are used:
 

adaptation

=

 1.modification to meet certain conditions;

2.a thing embodying such modification.

arrangement of

This term may cover modification of one of the objects concerned, but only if such modification is not of interest apart from the arrangement.

=

 assemblage or relative disposition.
 

arrangements for

=

 any means of fulfilling a specified function, normally comprising a combination of things which may be modified, e.g., F 16 D 23/02 Arrangements for synchronisation.

characteristic (N)

=

 distinguishing feature.

composition (chemical)

=

 mixture of ingredients, of more or less specified nature and proportions.

control (V)

=

 affect a variable (e.g., the speed of an engine) in any way, e.g., prevent variation (see also definition in class G 05).

engine

=

 a machine for producing mechanical power, e.g., for rotating or reciprocating a member, from pressure energy of a fluid.

essential

=

 a characteristic is essential for classification in a given group if its absence would necessitate its classification in a different group.

feature

=

 any attribute of a thing, e.g., its shape, its purpose, its manner of use, any part or quality.

fluid (N)

=

 any gas or liquid.

fluid (A)

=

 having the properties of a gas or liquid.

gearing

=

 mechanical, hydraulic, electric, or other means for transmitting mechanical motion or force.

handling

=

 dealing with material or objects in any way without intentionally or essentially altering any property, even temporarily (e.g., without deforming, heating, electrifying), e.g., transporting, storing, positioning, dispensing, winding, loading.

of interest

=

 having features which are of importance in the stated context.

laminate

=

 material of substantially uniform thickness composed of layers in more or less continuous contact and bonded together, e.g., plywood, The layers may be discontinuous, but not gapped.

layered product

=

 material composed of strata (continuous, discontinuous, or with gaps) of any form (e.g., honeycomb, corrugated) secured together in any way. Normally of substantially uniform thickness overall (i.e., ignoring local variations such as are produced by a corrugated face layer); may be in the form of an article, e.g., a container. This term is of wider scope than "laminate", covering material with voids between or in any layer.

manually

=

 by hand; by any other part of the human body unless a more restricted meaning is clearly understood.

measure

=

 enable a value, or its relation to a datum, to be determined (see also definition in class G 01).

monitor

=

 maintain a continuous or periodical watch (human or instrumental) on, to enable action to be taken or initiated, or a signal to be given, if undesired conditions occur.

motor

=

 an apparatus for producing mechanical motion from any other form of energy; the motion may be continuous or in separate strokes. This term covers "engine".

pertinent

=

 of a nature which is important to the field in question, e.g., in F 02 M 17/00 ("Carburettors having pertinent characteristics...") the characteristics must be peculiar to the purpose of supplying combustion engines, in accordance with the subclass title.

plant

=

 a combination of machines, apparatus, etc. to produce a desired result, in which each machine, etc. performs a function that can be dealt with separately and is often studied individually, as opposed to "apparatus", in which only the overall function is normally of interest, though parts may also be of interest constructionally. For example, ore-treating plant comprising crusher, conveyer, screen, and dust separator, or engine plant comprising two engines related in respect of steam supply or drive.

plastic (A)

=

 more or less easily deformable, locally or as a whole, by force in any direction, to assume and retain any desired shape.

plastics (N)

=

 macromolecular compounds or compositions based on such compounds, e.g., synthetic resins.

plastics (A)

=

 of plastics.

preparation

=

 1.the making of any kind of substance, material, compound, or composition;

2.pretreatment of a semi-finished material or article for subsequent treatment, etc.

3.composition for a particular purpose, e.g. medicinal.

stock

=

 a piece (which may be of indefinite length) of solid material in a particular form resulting from some preliminary operation (a semi-finished product), for use in an operation in which it is divided up (before or after some shaping or other operation) in the production of articles.

treatment

=

 use of a process, or series of processes, to produce a desired effect on material or objects. A treatment may alter the nature of the material or the objects completely (e.g., chemical treatment); otherwise its purpose is usually to alter some property (e.g., by heating, coating, polishing, sterilising, magnetising), without altering overall form, though the term also covers changing shape. The effect may be temporary or permanent, and may apply to the whole of an object or only part of it.

use (N)

=

 1.purpose for which, or field of art in which, a thing is employed;

2.fact that a thing is employed, or the manner in which it is employed.

value

=

 magnitude or numerical expression of a variable or of a measurable constant.

variable (N)

=

 a measurable quantity or property which may, but need not, change, e.g., length, speed, voltage, colour. Since such a quantity or property may, for a given entity or in given circumstances, remain constant in value, means for measurement of a variable are in general the same as for measurement of a constant of the same nature, and reference to "a variable" must be interpreted accordingly (see Note to section G).

working-up

=

 treating substances to obtain them in desired final state or form, e.g. colouring by incorporating pigments, granulating, producing sheets or articles.

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