cpc field-specific training - european patent office · european patent office 6 classification...
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CPC field-specific training
B25F
Radu David June 2018Examiner, European Patent Office
European Patent Office 2
Overview
▪ Classification scheme
▪ Definitions and related fields
▪ Examples
European Patent Office 3
Classification scheme
B25F group has about 23 000 documents.
The largest groups are:
5 920 documents – B25F5/00
5 585 documents – B25F5/02
3 290 documents – B25F5/001
2 467 documents – B25F5/006
The average group size is around 1 000 documents,
unevenly distributed.
European Patent Office 4
Classification scheme
As the aim of classification is the retrieval of technical subject-matter,
the search examiner in the field applies a mix of:
▪ Figure-feature search,
i.e. a search of features shown in figures
▪ Text-feature search,
i.e. a search for written features
When flipping through documents, in B25F, the search examiner mostly
looks at the figures, i.e. classification of the figures is often more
important than classification of the wording of broad and vague claims.
European Patent Office 5
Classification scheme
Since the variation of the technology in B25F is very large, it is worth
remembering the following points:
▪ B25F1 and its subgroups applies only for tools without motor
▪ B25F3 includes also adapters that could be plugged on a power unit
(i.e. motor) and have no other specific classification symbol (i.e. are
not chucks, saw heads etc.)
▪ B25F5/00, due to its size, must be used as much as possible only as
"last resort" and the documentation that is already classified in one of
its subgroups should only exceptionally receive the "/00" for another
technical disclosure if there is no other classification symbol
(i.e. B24B23, B25D17 etc.) attached to said technical disclosure
▪ B25F5/02 and its subgroups applies only for tools with motor
European Patent Office 6
Classification scheme
B25F1/00 – Combination or multi-purpose hand tools (non powered)
(associations of tools for different working operations with
one portable power-drive means B25F3/00;
combined stapling and punching tools B25C5/0214)
B25F1/003 – of pliers'-, scissors'- or wrench-type with at least one
movable jaw (B25F1/006 takes precedence)
B25F1/006 – with percussion tool-heads or -blades,
e.g. hammers, axes
B25F1/02 – with interchangeable or adjustable tool elements
B25F1/04 – wherein the elements are brought into working
positions by a pivoting or sliding movement
European Patent Office 7
Classification scheme
B25F3/00 – Associations of tools for different working operations
with one portable power-drive means; Adapters therefor
B25F5/00 – Details or components of portable power-driven tools
not particularly related to the operations performed and
not otherwise provided for
B25F5/001 – Gearings, speed selectors, clutches or the like
specially adapted for rotary tools
B25F5/003 – Stops for limiting depth in rotary hand tools
(for drilling tools: B23B49/003 )
B25F5/005 – Hydraulic driving means
B25F5/006 – Vibration damping means
B25F5/008 – Cooling means
European Patent Office 8
Classification scheme
B25F5/02 – Construction of casings, bodies or handles
(B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence)
B25F5/021 – with guiding devices (guiding devices for hand
tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078)
B25F5/022 – with incorporated levels
B25F5/023 – with removably attached levels
B25F5/024 – as part of an auxiliary handle
B25F5/025 – with torque reaction bars for rotary tools
B25F5/026 – in the form of an auxiliary handle
(B25F5/024 takes precedence)
B25F5/027 – with storage compartments
European Patent Office 9
Classification scheme
B25F5/028 – to be supported by a fixed object
B25F5/029 – with storage compartments
(B25F5/027 takes precedence; handles for non-
powered tools with provisions for storing
tool elements B25G1/08)
European Patent Office 10
Overview
▪ Classification scheme
▪ Definitions and related fields
▪ Examples
European Patent Office 11
Definitions and related fields
Synonyms and Keywords
In patent documents, the following words/expressions are often used
as synonyms:
▪ "power-driven" and "power assisted"
▪ "hand tool", "hand-held", "hand device", "hand operated" and
"hand actuated"
▪ "portable machine" and "portable equipment"
European Patent Office 12
Definitions and related fields
Glossary of terms
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the
meaning indicated:
▪ Tool = Any portable instrument of operation for performing, assisting
the work or facilitating mechanical operations. Tools can be manually
operated or by machine tools, such as millers for milling machines.
Machine tools are not considered as tools.
▪ Hand tool = Device for performing work on a material or a physical
system using only muscular strength.
▪ Power-driven tool = Tool powered by a motor, e.g. electric, hydraulic,
pneumatic, fluid pressure.
European Patent Office 13
Definitions and related fields
Glossary of terms
▪ Association of power-driven tools = A power-driven object having two
or more tools, which are designed to perform different specific tasks,
e.g. a Proxxon®-type rotary power tool with exchangeable tools for
boring, milling, grinding, polishing, etc.
▪ Portable = Capable of being easily carried or conveyed.
▪ Multi-purpose tool = Device having or serving several purposes,
which may be either manual or power-driven, e.g. a tool with
interchangeable tool elements.
European Patent Office 14
Definitions and related fields
Glossary of terms
▪ Combination hand tools = Manually operated object involving two, or
possibly more than two (but a confined number of), clearly defined
purposes (having two or more tools put together for different
purposes), e.g. Gerber® multiplier tool.
European Patent Office 15
Definitions and related fields
B25F1/00 – Combination or multi-purpose hand tools (non powered)
This place covers:
▪ Associations of tools for different working operations,
without a power-drive means
This place does not cover:
▪ B25F3/00 – Associations of tools for different working operations with
one portable power-drive means
▪ B25C5/0214 – combined stapling and punching tools
European Patent Office 16
Definitions and related fields
Related fields of B25F1
A62B3/00Devices or single parts facilitating escape from buildings
or the like (i.e. rescue tools)
A63B29/08 Hand equipment for mountaineering
B23D79/00 Hand scraping implements
B25B7/22 Pliers provided with auxiliary tool elements
B25B13/00 Wrenches, spanners
B25B15/00 Screwdrivers
B25D1/00 Hand hammers
B25D7/00 Picks
B26B1/00 Hand knives with adjustable blade
B26B11/00 Hand knives combined with other implements
European Patent Office 17
Definitions and related fields
B25F3/00 – Associations of tools for different working operations
with one portable power-drive means;
Adapters therefor
This place covers:
▪ Associations of tools for different working operations, with a common
power-drive means.
▪ Different adapters mechanically associated with a core power unit.
European Patent Office 18
Definitions and related fields
Related fields of B25F3
B25F5/02Construction of casings, bodies or handles for
power tools
B23B45/003 Hand equipment for mountaineering
B23D57/0076Sawing machines or devices not covered – machines
for converting any machine for sawing purposes
B25B21/00,
B25B21/007
Portable power-driven screw or nut setting tools and
attachments therefor
B25B23/0007Details of, or accessories for spanners,
wrenches, screwdrivers
European Patent Office 19
Definitions and related fields
B25F5/00 - Details or components of portable power-driven tools
not particularly related to the operations performed and
not otherwise provided for
This place covers:
▪ Details or components of portable power-driven tools, e.g. handles or
accessories, and not entire power-driven tools
European Patent Office 20
Definitions and related fields
Related fields of B25F5
B05B9/08 Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. of knapsack type
B22D15/02Casting using a mould or core of cylinders, pistons, bearing shells
or like thin-walled objects
B23B45/00Hand-held or like portable drilling machines,
e.g. drill guns
B23D9/00Hand-operated planing devices; Portable
planing apparatus
B23D27/02 Hand-held devices for cutting by a nibbling action
B23Q 11/12Arrangements for cooling or lubricating parts of the machine
(e.g. drill)
B24B23/02Portable grinding machines, e.g. hand-guided; with rotating
grinding tools; Accessories therefor
B24B23/022Portable grinding machines, e.g. hand-guided; Accessories
therefor - spindle locking device
European Patent Office 21
Definitions and related fields
Related fields of B25F5
B24B41/007
Component parts such as frames, beds, carriages, headstocks.
Weight compensation; Temperature compensation;
Vibration damping
B25B21/00Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or
loosening tools
B25B23/141Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers -
Mechanical overload release couplings
B25D17/00 Details of portable power-driven percussive tools
B25D17/20Details of, or accessories for, portable power-driven percussive
tools - devices for cleaning or cooling tool or work
B26B25/00Hand cutting tools involving disc blades, e.g.
motor-driven
B26F1/00 Perforating; Punching; Cutting-out and Stamping-out
B27B9/00 Power-driven circular saws for manual operation
European Patent Office 22
Definitions and related fields
Related fields of B25F5
B27B17/0033 Chain saws - devices for vibration damping
B27B19/00 Other reciprocating saws with power drive; Fret-saws
B27C1/10 Hand planes equipped with power-driven cutter blocks
B27C5/10 Portable hand-operated wood-milling machines; Routers
F02B63/02Adaptations of engines for hand-held tools; Portable combinations
of engines with engine-driven devices
F0263/02
Adaptations of engines for driving pumps, hand-held tools or
electric generators; Portable combinations of engines with
engine-driven devices
F16F1/00,
F16F1/545Springs
F16F7/00,
F16F7/108Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers
European Patent Office 23
Definitions and related fields
Related fields of B25F5
F16P3/18
Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of
a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use
of two or more parts of the body-using both hands
F21V21/00Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for
lighting devices
H01H9/00Details of switching devices not covered by groups
H01H1/00-H01H7/00
H01H9/06Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other
than the actuation of the switch
H01M2/1022
Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-
active parts for miniature batteries or batteries for
portable equipment
H01R13/00 Details of coupling devices
European Patent Office 24
Definitions and related fields
Related fields of B25F5
H02J7/00Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising
batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
H02J7/0042
Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising
batteries or for supplying loads from batteries,
characterised by the mechanical construction
H02J7/0052
Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising
batteries or for supplying loads from batteries, charge
circuits only
H02K5/04Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape,
form or construction thereof (i.e. for electric motors)
H02K5/18Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape,
form or construction for cooling
European Patent Office 25
Definitions and related fields
Related fields of B25F5
H02K7/00
Arrangements for handling mechanical energy
structurally associated with the machine, e.g. structural
association with mechanical driving motor or auxiliary
dynamo-electric machine
H02K5/18Structural association with measuring or protective
devices or electric components
European Patent Office 26
Definitions and related fields
Workflow summary
▪ When flipping through documents, in B25F, the search examiner
mostly looks at the figures, i.e. classification of the figures is often
more important than classification of the wording of broad and vague
claims. Only in very large groups (i.e. B25F5/00), text search may be
used predominantly to filter out the "noise".
▪ Abstract and summary of the invention are usually enough to receive
additional "text" information.
▪ B25F5/00, due to its size, must be used as much as possible only as
"last resort" and the documentation that is already classified in one of
its subgroups should only exceptionally receive the "/00" for another
technical disclosure if there is no other classification symbol (i.e.
B24B23, B25D17 etc.) attached to said technical disclosure
▪ B25F5/02 and its subgroups applies only for tools with motor –
combinations with B25G are very rare
European Patent Office 27
Overview
▪ Classification scheme
▪ Definitions and related fields
▪ Examples
European Patent Office 28
Examples
Example 1
B25F1/003 – Multi-purpose pliers,
scissors or wrench
B25F1/04 – Multi-purpose tool
with interchangeable elements
brought in to position by pivoting
or sliding
US2016052120
Multifunctional welding apparatuses and methods of operating multifunctional
welding apparatuses are provided. The first head member and the second head
member are rotatably coupled to each other. The first tool is one of a pliers, a nozzle
removing tool, a tip removing tool, a wire cutting tool, a hammer and a cleaning tool.
The plurality of tools includes at least one of a thickness gauge, a scratching tool,
and a picking tool.
European Patent Office 29
Examples
Example 2
B25F5/02 – Construction of
casings, bodies or handlesUS2015097641
A switch assembly includes a circuit board
mounted in the housing of an electric tool and
carrying multiple magnetic sensor components,
a first button having hooks slidably coupled to
the circuit board and a press portion exposed to
the outside of the housing for pressing by a
user and a first magnetic member mounted at
the press portion and movable with the first
button relative to the housing to induce and
change the magnetic flux of one magnetic
sensor component, and a second button
mounted in the housing and movable back and
forth relative to the housing and carrying a
second magnetic member that is movable with
the second button to induce and change the
magnetic flux of the other magnetic sensor
component.
European Patent Office 30
Examples
Example 3
B25F5/006 – Vibration damping
B25F5/026 – Auxiliary handles
US2016129579
A side handle for a power tool includes a base, a grip with an elongated tubular inner
section having a first end and a second end, an outer sleeve which surrounds at
least part of the inner section. The outer sleeve is connected to the inner section at
the first end via a connecting section. The connecting section is resiliently
deformable to allow pivotal movement of the outer sleeve relative to the inner
section. Damping masses can be attached to the inner section and/or outer sleeve.
European Patent Office
US2016221085
A power tool and operation method for quick
locking and releasing working attachment thereof
are provided. The power tool includes a housing;
a motor in the housing; an output shaft driven by
the motor; and a chuck to lock and release a
working attachment, said chuck including a
chuck body coupled with the output shaft, jaws
movably disposed relative to the chuck body, and
a clamping sleeve outside the chuck body. The
clamping sleeve is movable with respect to the
chuck body so as to drive the jaws to retract and
open relative to the chuck body. A control
mechanism is operable to lock the clamping
sleeve or the chuck body relative to the housing,
and to control the motor initiating along a preset
rotary direction so that relative movement
between the clamping sleeve and the chuck body
is generated.
31
Examples
Example 4B25F5/029 – Casing with storage
compartments
B25F5/001 – Gearings, speed
selectors, clutches or the like
specially adapted for rotary tools
European Patent Office
DE102016213617
The invention relates to a filter support for a
handheld power tool, comprising at least one
filter support element, wherein the filter
support element has at least one receiving
opening designed to receive a filter element.
The filter elements of the filter support are
preferably associated with air inlet openings of
the handheld power tool and are designed to
filter dust particles and/or material particles
from a cooling air flow. The filter support can
be fastened to a handheld power tool by
means of a first and a second fastening
element, wherein the first and the second
fastening elements of the filter support can be
connected to each other. Advantageously, no
fastening elements are provided on the
handheld power tool.
32
Examples
Example 5
B25F5/008 – Cooling means
B25F5/02 – Construction of
casings, bodies or handles
European Patent Office 33
Thank you for your attention !