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CPC field-specific training

F16M "Supports"

Mark Simens June 2018Examiner, European Patent Office

European Patent Office 2

Table of contents

▪ Introduction

▪ What and where to classify F16M; neighbouring fields

▪ Specific terminology

▪ Overall structure F16M11


▪ Examples


Introduction

Where to find …

▪ CPC classification scheme and definitions of F16M

− www.cpcinfo.org

− https://worldwide.espacenet.com/classification?locale=en_EP

− EPOQUE net

▪ Classification rules

− IPC Guide:

http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/classifications/ipc/en/guide/

guide_ip c.pdf

− CPC training material:

http://www.cooperativepatentclassification.org/Training.html

http://www.cpcinfo.org/

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/classification?locale=en_EP

http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/classifications/ipc/en/guide/guide_ip c.pdf

http://www.cooperativepatentclassification.org/Training.html


Introduction

General CPC

IPC-Guide VIII.75▪ Why do we classify???

− to search and retrieve documents by combining different symbols

✓ Example: F16M13/02 (support for supporting on, or attaching

to object) and F16M2200/063 (parallelogram arms)

− detailed classification → quicker and better search

▪ Crucial giving all possible symbols, not only F16M but also all the

neighbouring fields.

− Documents are classified based on the entire disclosure including

drawings

− No particular attention is paid to claimed subject matter.

Features that do not include details of the subject matter of these

subclasses should not be used as a basis for classification.


Table of contents

▪ Introduction





▪ Examples


What and where to classify F16M

F16M

The subclass F16M deals with:

▪ FRAMES, CASINGS, OR BEDS OF ENGINES OR OTHER

MACHINES OR APPARATUS NOT SPECIFIC TO AN ENGINE,

MACHINE, OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE;

F16M1/00, F16M3/00, F16M5/00, F16M7/00 and F16M9/00

▪ STANDS OR SUPPORTS F16M11/00 and F16M13/00



Subclass F16M

▪ F16M contains devices described in general terms (without any

special application) and not otherwise discussed in the rest of the

classification.

▪ Therefore, if the document to be classified is dedicated to a special

application or a special use, and that a more relevant class could

be given in the field of this application or use, no classes should be

given in F16M.

Examples:

▪ A support for a tooth brush should not be classified in F16M but in

the fields of toothbrush, domestic appliances, bathroom utensils, etc. ...

▪ A detail related to a seat should not be classified in F16M, but

depending if it is a seat for a car or a normal seat, it should be classified

respectively in B62N or in A47C



Neighbouring fields

Furniture in general A47B

Desk provided with computers A47B21/007

Book or Notebook rest holder A47B23/04D

Chairs, sofas, beds A47C

Support to show or support objects in shops, restaurants etc. A47F, A47F3/00, A47F5/00, A47F7/00

Support to hang frames and mirrors A47G1/16

Support for Christmas trees A47G33/12

Support for medical instrument A61B19/00

Dental work stand A61G15/14

Stand for blood infusion device A61M5/14R

Support for laboratory devices B01L9/00

Supports for painting articles B05B13/02M, B25H1/00B

Tool support for machine tools B23Q1/25

XY translation tables B23Q1/54

Holding, supporting or positioning device removable from a machine tools B23Q3/00

Work benches, portable stands B25H1/00

Storage means for tools or instruments B25H3/00

Seat for vehicles B60N2/00

Arrangements for holding or mounting articles in a vehicle B60R11/00

Lifting means provided on a vehicle B60S9/00

Dolly B62B3/00

Lifting Jacks B66F1/06

Camera dolly B66F11/04D

Foldable scaffold E04G1/34



Neighbouring fields

Structure allowing erecting telescopic mast E04H12/18Sockets or holder for poles or posts E04H12/22Device for locking portable objects E05B73/00, A47FFixation means F16BSupport for lighting devices F21V21/00Support for ventilation/heating/air-conditioning systems F24F13/32Solar panel supports H02S20/00Support for measuring arrangements G01B5/00BSupports specially adapted for a measuring instrument or a set of measuring instruments G01D11/30Supports for optical elements (telescopes, periscopes) G02B23/16Accessories (support) for cameras G03B17/56Projectors and accessories G03B21/00Constructional details of laptops G06F1/16DSurveillance camera G08B13/196Arrangements for displaying variable information G09FSupports for musical instruments G10G5/00Supports for measuring instruments G12B5/00, G12B9/00Support for solar panel H01L31/042BAntenna supports H01Q1/00Supports for electric motor H02K5/00Casings for radio H04B1/08Supports for phones H04M1/02Accessories for video cameras for television H04N5/225Constructional details of display screens (television) H04N5/64Video projectors H04N5/74PSupports for loudspeaker H04R1/02Supports for microphones H04R1/08Details of casings for electric apparatus H05K5/00


Table of contents

▪ Introduction





▪ Examples


Specific terminology

F16M11/00 and F16M13/00

F16M11/00: Stands or trestles as

supports for

apparatus or articles

placed thereon

F16M13/00: Other supports for

positioning apparatus

or articles;

Means for steadying

hand-held apparatus

or articles

▪ The stands or supports can

− lie on a surface,

− be attached to another object,

− be attached to a human body,

− be attached to the wall or the ceiling.

▪ The objects attached can

− hold or rest steady on the support or stand

− move relatively to the surface on which the support is attached

or lies thanks to the different degrees of freedom that the support

or stand allows.



Classification method for F16M11/00

and F16M13/00 (1)

▪ The following method should be followed to classify a document

under F16M11/00, F16M13/00, F16M2200/00 and the depending

lower groups.

▪ The following items should be first identified:

− The stand or support (S),

− The apparatus (A) to be supported,

− The surface or the object (F) on or to which the support (S)

should be fixed, attached or rest.

▪ As a general rule, the movements are defined with respect to a

typical position of the user when using the device supported.




and F16M13/00 (2)

Once these items are identified, two portions of the support should be

then identified:

▪ the head: Part of a support including means for attachment to

an apparatus to be supported and when existing, the first

kinematically independent joint assembly directly attached

to the means for attachment.

▪ the undercarriage: includes everything making up the stand S

under the head but not including this one.



F16M11/00 and F16M13/00

Definition of "head":

Part of a support including

▪ means for attachment to an

apparatus to be supported

▪ and when existing, the first

kinematically independent

joint assembly directly attached

to the means for attachment.

FIG. 1 FIG. 2 FIG. 3



F16M11/00 and F16M13/00

Definition of

"undercarriage":

The concept of undercarriage:

Everything making up the stand

under the head but not including

this one.



Examples of heads and undercarriages

Example 1:



Examples of heads and undercarriages

Example 2:

▪ the head should be classified in:

− F16M11/10: rotation around

the horizontal axis.

▪ The undercarriage should be

classified under

− F16M11/2092:

translation for the depth

adjustment and

− F16M11/2014:

rotation around vertical axis.




and F16M13/00 (3)

After having identified the surface (S) or object (F) defined before,

the first feature to be classified is

where the support S should be fixed, attached or rest?

▪ If the support S is attached or fixed to a wall, a post, a ceiling

or another object then the support S should be classified in

F16M13/02 or a depending lower group;

▪ If the support S is meant to support a handheld apparatus (A),

a class should be given in F16M13/00 or F16M13/005 (support

integral with the apparatus), but only if the support is also handheld;

If the support is e.g. a massive stand not easily movable, no

classification in F16M13/00 is necessary.




and F16M13/00 (4)

Cont'd ...

▪ If the support is provided with suction cup or clamp and is therefore

easily removable F16M13/022 should be given;

▪ If the support S is meant to be attached or held by a person,

F16M13/04 should be given;

▪ If the support S is connected to an arrangement for propelling the

support, e.g. dolly with wheels, camera moving on a cable or on rails,

it should be classified in F16M11/42 and the depending lower groups;

▪ If none of these cases are verified (e.g. for a stand simply resting on

the floor), it is not necessary to classify this feature. If details of the

foot or base of the stand or support are interesting (constructional

feature, cable arrangement ...) F16M2200/08 should be given.




and F16M13/00 (5)

▪ Then, the movements allowed by the head and the means of

attachment of the apparatus A with the support S should be classified

in F16M11/02 and the depending lower groups.

▪ Then, the movements allowed by the undercarriage should be

classified in F16M11/20 and the depending lower groups.

▪ If the support consists of a monolithic trunk not allowing any

movement and a fastening means in order to attach the object to be

supported to the trunk, the head will only consist of the fastening

means (if interesting F16M11/04(1) should be given) and the

undercarriage will consist of the trunk (and should be classified in

F16M11/22), see e.g. JP2010175998

▪ The additional relevant information should also be classified in the

parallel scheme F16M2200/00 or in the groups F16M11/16,

F16M11/18.



Remarks (1)

▪ F16M11/00, F16M11/02 and F16M11/20 should not be used to

classify any documents, because if a document fits e.g. in

F16M11/00, there will always be a more relevant subgroup in

one of the subgroups of F16M11/00.

▪ F16M2200/00 is used to classify additional features that could also

be part of the invention.

▪ The fact that only groups in F16M11/00 and depending lower groups

will be given to a document means that this one will rest on the

floor, and that it is not disclosed being attached or fixed to an other

object, a wall or a ceiling.



Remarks (2)

▪ If it is not clear how the support is to be used, e.g. no clear

orientations in the space and therefore a precise definition of the

movement can be done then general groups should be given.

▪ If the product to be supported is not described and therefore the

head can not be defined, only classes for the undercarriage should

be given.

▪ If the undercarriage of the support is not disclosed, only classes

for the head should be given.


Table of contents

▪ Introduction


▪ Criteria for including/excluding documents




▪ Examples


Overall structure F16M11

F16M11/02 Heads

The subgroups of F16M11/02 have the following subdivisions:

F16M11/04-F16M11/041 means for attachment of the apparatus

F16M11/043-F16M11/048 adjustment using translation movements

F16M11/06-F16M11/14 adjustment using rotational movements

F16M11/16Details concerning attachment of head-

supporting legs

F16M11/18with mechanism for moving the apparatus

relatively to the stand



F16M11/04-F16M11/041: means for attachment

of the apparatus to the head

▪ If the attachment allows a quick release F16M11/041 should be

given. Quick release means that the object can be easily attached

and released from the support using one or two simple

movements, see e.g. EP2196720

▪ If the invention is about the attachment of the object to the support

but is not of the quick release type, F16M11/04 should be given.



F16M11/043-F16M11/048: adjustment of the head

using translation movements

▪ If the head allows one or two dependent translations, the

appropriate symbols should be given among F16M11/045,

F16M11/046, F16M11/048.

▪ If all the translation movements are possible and are all

dependent on each others, or if the positioning of the support is not

clear, leading to an arbitrary choice as to the orientation of the

possible translation, then F16M11/043 (the higher subgroup) should

be given.



F16M11/06-F16M11/14: rotational adjustments

▪ If only one rotation is possible the appropriate symbol should be given among F16M11/08, F16M11/10, F16M11/105

▪ If two dependent rotations are possible, the appropriate symbol should be given among F16M11/125, F16M11/126 or F16M11/128.

▪ If all the rotation movements are possible, or if the positioning of the support is not clear, leading to an arbitrary choice as to the orientation of the possible translation, then F16M11/12 (the higher subgroup) should be given.

▪ F16M11/121 should be given in case the head is constituted of several dependent joints

▪ F16M11/123 should be given in case the head is constituted of several dependent joints the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, special case of gimbals.

▪ F16M11/14 should be given for ball joints and takes precedence over all the subgroups of F16M11/06.



F16M11/16: Details concerning attachment

of head-supporting legs

Gives details about the attachment of the legs supporting the head,

see e.g. EP2590405.



F16M11/18: with mechanism for moving the

apparatus relatively to the stand

▪ A support including actuating means, e.g. a lever, a motor, a piston

for adjusting the position of the head (and, therefore, the apparatus

to be supported) relative to another portion of the support.

▪ This actuating means can also be part of the undercarriage although

F16M11/18 is a lower subgroup of F16M11/02.



Some examples

EP2288960:

Symbols given in

F16M11/043 and

F16M11/12

(all translations and

rotations possible)

EP1570203:

Symbols given in

F16M11/046 and

F16M11/08



Some more examples

GB2469344: a Gimbal

Symbol given in F16M11/123

US2011020055:

Symbol given in F16M11/14

and F16M2200/022



F16M11/20 Undercarriage

The subgroups of F16M11/20 have the following subdivisions:

F16M11/2007-F16M11/2078 means allowing pivoting adjustment

F16M11/2085-F16M11/2092adjustment using translation

movements

F16M11/22 undercarriage having constant height

F16M11/24-F16M11/40height adjustment of the

undercarriage


Table of contents

▪ Introduction






▪ Examples



F16M13/00 (1)

Other supports for positioning

apparatus or articles,

Means for steadying hand-held


F16M13/00are classified handheld supports for handheld

apparatus.

F16M13/005deals with support being integral with the apparatus or

articles to be supported.

F16M13/02deals with support for supporting on, or attaching to,

an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle.

F16M13/022

deals with supports that can be easily removed from a

surface/object that supports it and can be easily

reattached at another location on the same or other

surface/object, the support may e.g. include a clamp or

suction cup for this purpose.



F16M13/00 (2)





F16M13/025deals with supports specially adapted for being used

in corners.

F16M13/027deals with supports specially adapted for being used

on the ceiling.

F16M13/04deals with supports for supporting on, or holding

steady relative to, a person.

F16M13/06deals with supports that can be used differently,

spade, chair.

F16M13/08 for use as a walking cane


Table of contents

▪ Introduction






▪ Examples


Examples

F16M13/00





1

4

2 3

5 6

7 8

F16M13/00

F16M13/005

F16M13/02

F16M13/022

F16M13/027

F16M13/04


Examples

F16M13/00





1

4

2 3

5 6

7 8

F16M13/00 6

F16M13/005 2, 3

F16M13/02 5

F16M13/022 4, 8

F16M13/027 7

F16M13/04 1


Examples

Classification in F16M11/00-F16M13/00

US2013271939

deals with a monitor support (400) has a multi-link arm (420) that

couples a monitor (430) to a base portion (410). The multi-link arm has

a primary beam that is coupled to base portion by a primary pivot.

A second beam is coupled to base portion by a secondary pivot.

The primary beam and secondary beam allowed to have a parallel

motion relative to each other as beams rotate about respective pivots.

A connector (431) couples monitor to multi-link arm and is provided with

connector axis. The connector enables a rotation of monitor by

approximately 180 deg about connector axis.


Examples


Classification of US2013271939Here the indexing codes should not be forgotten:

▪ F16M2200/044 : balancing means (see springs 220)

▪ F16M2200/063 : Parallelogram arm

Head allows tilting : F16M11/10

Undercarriage allows forward backward translation in same

time as height adjustment (thanks to the parallelogram arm)

→ F16M11/2092 and F16M11/24

The undercarriage can also pivot around a vertical axis

F16M11/2014

Fig 4 discloses a wheeled support → F16M11/42


Examples


US2012169888

discloses a small, lightweight assembly that enables document camera

functionality, along with other features and functionalities is disclosed.

The assembly has an adjustable stand (100) including a platform (110)

and one or more legs (120). The one or more legs are adjustable in

length so as to position the platform in either retracted or expanded

position.

The platform includes an opening to retain a web camera in a downward

orientation direction. The one or more legs are each pivotable about the

stand to enable a collapsed position for portability.

European Patent Office

▪ US2012169888 is classified in F16M11/16 because of the detail of the attachment of the legs to the plate 110.

▪ In this example only the undercarriage should be classified as the object to be supported is not disclosed in combination with the support. As the 3 legs are telescoping F16M11/32 should be given. Also because of the special attachment of the legs F16M11/38 is given as the legs here can be folded in a different way as usual tripods. And F16M13/00 should not be forgotten as it is a handheld support for handheld camera.

▪ Neighbouring field G03B: details of camera/ special procedure to take pictures

42

Examples



Examples


US4607578

discloses a positioning mechanism comprising three pantagraphs

supporting a table on a base. Each pantagraph is constructed of four

links connected into the form of a quadrilateral. The table is positioned to

permit with six degrees of freedom by regulating the angle of inclination

of each of the six lower links of the pantagraphs with respect to the base.


Examples


US4607578 classification:

▪ All the link are dependent so all the mechanism constitutes the head.

▪ It is motorised: F16M11/18

▪ The object supported can be moved in all rotation and translation

movements (6 d. o. f.) → F16M11/121 and F16M11/043

▪ Neighbouring fields: B25J (robots, wrist joints), B23P, B23Q

(machine tools)


Examples


US2012305733

A stand assembly for holding handheld electronic devices in a multitude of positions or locations having a first section with a curved end magnetically attached to second section having and indented surface. The first section also attaches to a surface, the second section either is contiguous with a portable electronic device, a carrying case, or other item; or has a means to attach to anothersurface. A high-friction elastomeric material,or similar friction producing material, helpsto secure the first and second sectionstogether, or the second section againstanother flat magnetic surface.


Examples



F16M11/04 for the ball joint of the head

F16M13/00for handheld support for

handheld apparatus.

F16M13/022 for repositionable support

F16M11/041for the quick release attachment

using magnetic attraction

F16M2200/022for the friction to lock the

ball joint.


Examples


US2014001319 discloses:

An electronic device includes a base and a reinforcing structure.

The base comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to the

first surface. The reinforcing structure comprises a first reinforcing bead,

a second reinforcing bead, a plurality of first ribs and a plurality of

second ribs. The second ribs radially extend from the first and second

reinforcing beads and cross connect with the first ribs, for reinforcing the

strength and rigidity of the base.

FIG. 1 FIG. 3FIG. 2


Examples



▪ the support does not allow any movements → F16M11/22

▪ the details of the base are important → F16M2200/08

▪ the attachment of the base (leg) to the support is also classified

in F16M11/16.

FIG. 1 FIG. 3FIG. 2