cpc training b32b - european patent office

CPC field-specific trainingB32B: "Layered products"

Jean-François Mazet September 2019Examiner, European Patent Office

European Patent Office 2

Table of contents

§ Introduction

§ What is a B32B multilayer product?

§ Classifying in B32B

§ B32B CPC scheme

§ Examples


IntroductionB32B is a very broad technical field

Layered products

Multilayer products

Laminated products

Laminates

...

Products B32B 1/00 – B32B 33/00

Layered products having at least two superposed and connected layers, whatever the nature of the products or their uses, whatever the material constituting the layers.

Methods / apparatuses

B32B 37/00 – B32B 43/006


IntroductionOverlaps with many different technical fields

D06M

B27N

D21H

D03D

D04H

F16L

E04C

E04D

E04F

etc.

Products having a layered structure can be found in nearlyall technical areas.


IntroductionOverlaps with many different technical fields

Relevant useful information?

When layers of multilayer products are defined (chemical composition, nature, physical structure etc.)

When features specific to the multilayer product are disclosed (type of connection, specialform etc.)

In the present CPC definitions, it is stated:

"Classification of layered products is provided for in many technical areas, most of which are confined to a particular kind of material. However, in order that this subclass may provide a basis for making a complete search with respectto layered products, any layered products that specify relevant useful information are classified in this subclass even though it may also be classified in other classes."


IntroductionExceptions

1. Claims like "layered product for a printed circuit" or "Optical element comprisinga layered product" etc.

2. Adhesive tape, film or sheet comprising a single layer substrate, an adhesive coating(not a layer) and a single layer liner or release sheet

Documents disclosing layered products but having all the claims specifically directed to:

H05K (Printed circuits)1

G02B [excluding G02B6] (Optical elements)1

A61F 13 (Absorbents)

C22C 26, 29, 32 (Alloys)

and

C09J 7 (Adhesive tapes)2

are NOT classified in B32B.


Table of contents

§ Introduction



§ B32B CPC scheme

§ Examples


What is a B32B multilayer product?

A product comprising:

By any method, such as needling, stitching, gluing, nailing, dovetailing, welding, interposing an adhesive film, electrostatic adhesion, Van der Waal’s forces etc., even if a layer is not in complete contact with the next layer, e.g. a corrugated layer against a flat layer.

§ at least two superposed layers,

§ which are secured together.


What is a B32B multilayer product?What is a layer?

A layer is a sheet, strip or stratum having a small thickness relative to its other dimensions.


What is a B32B multilayer product?What is a layer?

1. wood plate

metal foil

honeycomb

plastic film or sheet

textile

paper etc.

2.

§ by an assembly of elements (strands, cords, strips, tiles etc.) juxtaposed side-by-side,

§ by casting, extruding, moulding, etc., a dough made of :• molten material (foamable or not, e.g. polymers, tarry or

bituminous materials)• water-settable mineral compositions: mortars, cements, concretes etc.

§ as a textile, and bonded/impregnated into a cohesive sheet,(e.g. spun bonded fabric)

Preformed coherent and/or self-supporting solid layersi.e. having the form of a layer before being included into the multilayer product1

Layers formed in-situ in the following ways onlyi.e. taking the form of a layer while or after being broughtinto the multilayer product2


What is a B32B multilayer product?What is not a layer?

A coating on the surface of a layer,§ solution, dispersion, emulsion, suspension, paint, varnish

§ a low molecular polymer or oligomer, or a polymer which is liquid at around room temperature

§ liquid or other fluent materials that are applied by:

• brushing, flowing, spraying, dipping or doctor blading a solutionor dispersion;

• deposition of loose particles, e.g. by sprinkling; using fluidised-bed techniques;

• flocking;

• sputtering, vapour phase deposition, plasma deposition, vapour/plasma/vacuum depositing, electrodeposition,autophoretic deposition.

a deposit laid down in situ as a wet slurry or separate pieces spaced apart on the surface of a layer


In this example, layer A is considered as being directly adjacent to layer B

What is a B32B multilayer product?A coating is not a layer in B32B

… and this has consequences when classifying.

§ A coating (or coated adhesive) is not taken intoaccount for classifying the sequence/adjacencyof a multilayer product

§ A (multi)coated monolayer substrate is not a multilayer


What is a B32B multilayer product?A coating is not a layer in B32B

Features related to coatings can also be classified in other CPC subclasses:

C08J7

B05D

C09D

C09J

C23C

D06M

etc.

… but presence of coatings in a layered product can be indicated within the B32B CPC scheme.


What is a B32B multilayer product?In brief!

The boundaries of B32B are sometime not quite clear/tight!

Case by case!

Not B32B products! Some examples

etc.

... and many more ...

B32B products!??

?


Table of contents

§ Introduction



§ B32B CPC scheme

§ Examples


Classifying in B32BHow a B32B product can be described usingCPC scheme

Shape features (laminate – layers)

Structural / physical features (layers)

Material/chemical composition (layers)

Sequence / adjacency features (layers)

Properties (laminate – layers)

Uses / applications (laminate)

Methods / apparatuses for producing


Classifying in B32B

Methods and apparatus

B32B 37/00 - B32B 43/06

B32B 2037/00 - B32B 2041/06

B32B 2305/00 - B32B 2305/80

B32B 2309/00 - B32B 2398/20

Shape/structure/fibrous, particulate, foamed/ connection

B32B 1/00 - B32B 7/14

Chemical/materialfeatures

B32B 9/00 - B32B 33/00B32B 2262/00 - B32B 2266/08B32B 2270/00 - B32B 2274/00

Layers arrangement/ structure

B32B 2250/00 - B32B 2250/44

Coating, impregnation B32B 2255/00 - B32B 2260/048

Properties B32B 2307/00 - B32B 2307/764

Applications and uses B32B 2405/00 - B32B 2607/02


Classifying in B32BIt is more indexing than classifying

Most of the other CPC technical fields have a hierarchical classification structure but the structure of the B32B is not always hierarchical. This is due to the particular nature of multilayer products.

à Classifying a product in B32B is much closerto indexing.


Classifying in B32BIt is more indexing than classifying

A lot of classification symbols can be given in B32B to describe a multilayer product.This example (partial section of a product) is a fictive one, but such a situation is not uncommon in the B32B.B32B symbols for "real" layersB32B symbols for sequence/

adjacencyB32B symbols for various other

structural featuresB32B symbols for propertiesB32B symbols for uses


Classifying in B32BWhat should at least be classified

Classification primary serves the purpose of efficiently retrieving relevant prior art documents

1. At least all the features in the claims(combined with examples/figures when relevant)Particularly the sequence/adjacency information

2. Properties / uses (description, examples, claims )


Table of contents

§ Introduction



§ B32B CPC scheme

§ Examples


B32B CPC schemeOverview of the "product" part

In the B32B CPC scheme, the adjacency/sequence can only be expressed for two layers.


B32B CPC schemeShape of multilayer product or layer(s)B32B 1 – B32B 3

B32B 1 "Shape of multilayer other than plane"


B32B CPC schemeShape of multilayer product or layer(s)B32B 1 – B32B 3

B32B 3 "Shape / form feature(s) of layer(s)"


B32B CPC schemeFibres, particles, foam /Non-homogeneity within a layer B32B 5

A layer comprising fibres that are loose in a matrix (i.e. as additive ingredients) does not belong to B32B 5! It should be classified in the class for the matrix (B32B 9 -B32B 29), and in the class B32B 2262, where the chemical com-position of the fibres is given.

All fibrous layers?Then add B32B2250/20

B32B 5/02 - B32B 5/12 "Fibrous layer(s)"

à woven / non-woven materials, knits, nets, etc.

A document disclosing a product with at least one fibrous layer should have at least one symbol in B32B 5/02 - B32B 5/12

Chemical composition B32B 2262

Not for wood fibres B32B 21/02

Not for paper B32B 29



B32B 5/14 - B32B 5/147 "Non homogeneity within a layer"

à constitutional and/or physical difference(s) within the layer

Example: A panel having a polymer layer wherein the density of the polymer decreases toward the centre.

European Patent Office

B32B 5/16 "Particle layer(s)"

à preformed layer of chips, powder, granules, flakes etc.,in which said particles are bonded together(e.g. by sintering or by a binder)

A document disclosing a product with at least one particle layer should have at least the symbol B32B 5/16

27


A layer comprising particles that are loose in a matrix (i.e. as additive ingredients) does not belong to B32B 5!It should be classified in the class for the substance of the matrix (B32B 9 - B32B 29), and in the class B32B 2264 where the chemical composition of the particles is given.


Not for wood particles B32B 21/02



All foamed layers?

Then add B32B 2250/22B32B 5/18 - B32B 5/20 "Foam layer(s)"

à layer (preformed or foamed in-situ) of foamed material

A document disclosing a product with at least one foam layer should have at least one symbol in B32B 5/18 - B32B 5/20.


Structure (open or closed cells etc.) B32B 2266


B32B CPC schemeRelation/connection between layers B32B 7

1. exampleB32B 7/02 "Relation in respect of physicochemical properties"

à intentional choice of layers differing in a given property

Examples:

§ hardwood layer / softwood layer

§ HDPE / VLDPE

B32B 7/03 "Relation in respect of orientation"1

B32B 7/04 - B32B 7/14 "Interconnection of layers"

inter alia:

§ B32B 7/08 mechanical means

§ B32B 7/12 adhesives


B32B CPC schemeChemical composition / nature B32B 9 – B32B 29

B32B 9 "particular substances"

à stone, porcelain, bamboo, cork starch, gelatine, leather etc.

B32B 11 "bitumen, tar, asphalt"

A layer formed by impregnating a fibrous web with molten asphalt or tarry substance is not classified here but inB32B 2260/042 (for asphalt as impregnating material) andin B32B 5 for the fibrous structure.


B32B CPC schemeChemical composition / natureB32B 9 – B32B 29

B32B 13 "water setting substances"

à cement, gypsum, concrete, etc.

A layer formed by impregnating a fibrous web with this kindof material is not classified here but in B32B 2260/044(for cement etc. as impregnating material) and in B32B 5for the fibrous structure.

B32B 15 "Metal"

B32B 17 "Glass"



B32B 18 "All ceramic layers"

B32B 19 "Natural mineral fibres or particles"

à asbestos, mica etc.

B32B 21 "Wooden materials"

à MDF, particleboard, plywood, massive wood, veneer etc.

B32B 23 "Cellulosic plastics"

à cellulose esters, cellulose ethers, viscose etc.



Not for thermoplastic elastomers!These are classified in B32B 27 and B32B 2274/00.

All polymer and/or rubber sheet/ film?Then add a symbol from B32B 2250/24 - B32B 2250/248

How to classify a blend?Give B32B 2270/00 and add a symbol from B32B 25 and/or B32B 27 for each component.

B32B 25 "Rubbers"

à Natural or synthetic thermosetting rubber, vulcanized

§ Examples: Butadiene rubber BR, styrene butadiene rubber SBR, butadiene acrylonitrile rubber NBR, ethylene propylene rubber EPM EPDM, ethylene vinylacetate rubber EVM, ethylene acrylate rubber EAM, polysiloxane rubber, fluorosilicone rubber etc.

§ A layer formed by impregnating a fibrous web with rubber is not classified here but in B32B 2260/048 (for rubber as impregnating material) and in B32B 5 for the fibrous structure.



All polymer and/or rubber sheet/film?Then add a symbol from B32B 2250/24 - B32B 2250/248

How to classify a blend? Give B32B 2270/00 and add a symbol from B32B 25 and/or B32B 27 for each component.

How to classify a co-, block-, grafted polymer?Symbols for each "component" if applicable. Ex.: a polyether-esterwill be classified in B32B 27/285and B32B 27/36

B32B 27 "synthetic polymers"

à layer(s) made of film/sheet of polymers

§ A layer formed by impregnating a fibrous web with molten resin is not classified here but in B32B 2260/046(for synthetic resin as impregnating material) andin B32B 5 for the fibrous structure.

§ B32B 27/20 presence of fillers

§ B32B 27/16 Specially treated --- usually by irradiation, corona, plasma.



1. example:

a paper made of aramid fibres should be classified here and also in B32B 5 and B32B 2262 (not in B32B 27).

B32B 29 "Paper, cardboard"

Also for paper made of synthetic fibres1


B32B CPC schemeSequence of layers/adjacency

§ In the B32B 5 group (fibrous, particulate and foam layers)as well as in each material group (B32B 9 to B32B 29), there are subgroups dedicated to the sequence/adjacency.

§ Adjacency/sequence can only be expressedbetween two layers.

Four adjacency/sequence classification symbols to be given for:

Layer A // Layer B

Layer B // Layer C

Layer C // Layer D

Layer D // Layer E



In short!

B32B 5/245 fibres // foam

B32B 5/26 fibres // fibres

B32B 5/30 particles // particlesparticles // fibresparticles // foam

B32B 5/32 foam // foam

Adjacency for fibrous, particle and foam layers

à in subgroups B32B 5/22 to B32B 5/32.



In short!

B32B 21/042 wood // wood

B32B 21/045 wood // rubber

B32B 21/047 wood // foam

B32B 21/06 wood // paper

B32B 21/08 wood // polymer

B32B 21/10 wood // fibres

B32B 21/12 wood // particles

Adjacency for other types of layers

à is indicated in each composition group B32B 9 - B32B 29.

Example of adjacency / sequence scheme in B32B 21(layered products comprising a layer of wood):



In short!

B32B 27/065 polymer // foam

B32B 27/08 polymer // polymer

B32B 27/10 polymer // paper

B32B 27/12 polymer // fibres

B32B 27/14 polymer // particles

Example of adjacency / sequence scheme in B32B 27(layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin):



There is no direction in a sequence:

§ wood // polymer or polymer // wood

§ is the same information.

A specific sequence / adjacency appears only once inthe scheme!

wood // polymer or polymer // wood

is the same information.

wood // polymer or polymer // wood

is to be found in the subgroup B32B 21 (wood) and not under B32B 27 (synthetic resin)



Only "real" B32B layers are taken into account for the sequence / adjacency!

Example:C1: paintL1: paperL2: PP layerC2: vapour deposited metalL3: textileC3: coated adhesiveL4: PU layerL5: Metal foil

The presence of coatings C1, C2 and C3 does not modify the classification for adjacency.

Example:

L1: paper

L2: PP layer

L3: textile

L4: PU layer

L5: Metal foil

Classification symbols for sequence / adjacency:

L1/L2 : paper / synthetic resin B32B 27/10

L2/L3 and L3/L4: synthetic resin / textile B32B 27/12

L4/L5: PU / metal B32B 15/095


Table of contents

§ Introduction



§ B32B CPC scheme

§ Examples


ExamplesExample 1

L1: polyamide layer

L2: fibrous layer: PO fibres, impregnated with a polyester resin

L3: polyamide layer

polyamide layer (L1 and L3) B32B 27/34

fibrous layer B32B 5/02

polyolefin fibres B32B 2262/0253

fibrous layer impregnated B32B 2260/021

with a polymer B32B 2260/046

sandwich B32B 2250/40

synthetic resin next to fibrous layer B32B 27/12


ExamplesExample 2

L1: PO foam layer filled with Al particles

L2: Al foil

foam layer B32B 5/18

metal (aluminium) layer B32B 15/20

metal particles as filler B32B 2264/105

foam layer next to metal layer B32B 15/046

foam layer being PO B32B 2266/025


ExamplesExample 3

No possibility to distinguishthe compositions of layer 1and layer 2!

L1: layer made of a blend of PA and polyester

L2: layer made of PA or polyester

L3: glass fabric

polyamide layer (L1 and L2) B32B 27/34

polyester layer (L2) B32B 27/36

polymer blend B32B 2270/00

fibres made of glass B32B 2262/101

synthetic resin layer next to fibrous layer B32B 27/12

synthetic resin layer next to synthetic resin B32B 27/08


ExamplesExample 4

The honeycomb layer is the core “sandwiched” between the two skin/face layers, each made of two woven fibrous layers.

The adhesive is a film = a layer: it is taken into account for the adjacency/sequence.

But not the polymeric coatings!

two skin/face layers (each made of two woven fibrous layers)

B32B 5/024, B32B 5/26

a honeycomb core layer B32B 3/12,B32B 2250/40

polymer coating on facesB32B 2255/02, B32B 2255/26

polymer adhesive films between layersB32B 7/12,B32B 27/12


ExamplesExample 5

stack of non-woven fibrous layers B32B 5/022, B32B 5/26

polymer coating on one face B32B 2255/02, B32B 2255/26

polymer adhesive films between layers B32B 7/12,B32B 27/12

metal sheet layer on the other face B32B 15/14


ExamplesExample 6



polymer adhesive films between layers B32B 7/12, B32B 27/12

chemical vapor deposited metal on other face B32B 2255/205


ExamplesExample 7



polymer adhesive films between layers B32B 7/12, B32B 27/12

wood particle board on other face B32B21/02, B32B 21/10

the layers are moulded for shaping B32B 1/00

uses: ballistics helmet, bullet proof vest B32B 2571/02


Thank you for your attention!