Talk:USPC 244/35
What to do with 244/35R?
I asked the USPTO. R stands for residual, from some attempt to split the category. I inferred from the answer that we should map 35R right to 35 and not try to maintain the distinction. Here, with some compression, paraphrasing and minor edits, are the question and answer:
| Subject: request for distinction between classifications: 244/35, 244/35.00, 244/35R, and 244/35.00R |
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| To: <oeip@uspto.gov>, Sent: 08/24/17 7:19:43 PM
I'm gathering information about patent technology classifications, mainly related to USPC classification 244. I'm having trouble finding explanations for the suffixes R and .00. Could you point me to an online explanation of the differences between subclasses 244/35, 244/35.00, 244/35R, and 244/35.00R? I don’t know why my sources have these suffixes but if there is a meaningful difference I should note it. If there is no meaningful difference, I would like to be able to cite something that says so. It would be good if these suffixes were documented on one of the pages I’ve found discussing 244/35. I will be happy to look on another page if there is one. |
Got my answer from a USPTO specialist. I've reorganized it so the answer is at the top and some important background info is below:
| Subject: Re: request for distinction between classifications: 244/35, 244/35.00, 244/35R, and 244/35.00R |
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Classification 244/35 is for "Sustaining airfoils." At some point in time 244/35 was subdivided into 244/35R and 244/35A. This was an unofficial breakout of 244/35 probably done by an examiner. There is no official definition of 244/35A other than the title, Compressible flow. The 244/35 patents that did not relate to Compressible flow were left in the Residual 35 subclass or 35R. So 244/35, 244/35.000, and 244 035000 are all the same. I’m not sure where you saw 35.00. 244/35R, 244/35.00R, 244 03500R are all the same. 244/35R and 244/35A both fall under the definition of 244/35. 244/35A was unofficially broken out of 244/35 and does not have its own definition. 244/35R patents are what were left after taking out the 35A patents out of 244/35 A more complete explanation of the USPC can be found here –
Background US Patent Classification (USPC) System classifications consist of a class number of 1-3 alphanumeric digits. In data files a class number that is less than 3 digits may appear with padded zeros to get to 3 digits, so USPC class 3 may appear as 003 and USPC class D4 may appear as D04. USPC subclasses consist of a subclass number of 1 to 6 alphanumeric digits. Up to 3 digits may appear to the left of a decimal point and up to 3 digits may appear to the right. In raw data files these also may be padded. For example subclass 35 would appear as 035000 and subclass 35R would appear as 03500R. Subclass 99.1 may appear as 099100. In the USPC system, subclasses may include 1 or 2 alpha characters to the right of the decimal. These are called alpha subclasses. Generally, these were examiner collections of patents that were taken out of an existing subclass. These subclasses do not have their own definitions. Historically, US patents were classified in the US Patent Classification System (USPC). As of April 2015, the USPTO transitioned from the USPC to the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system. The USPTO currently classifies newly issued patents in the Cooperative Patent Classification System (CPC). Patents that issued prior to the April 2015 transition were assigned relevant classifications in the CPC. |
Note at the tail there -- USPTO no longer assigns USPCs to most patents, but has switched to CPCs. I put more documentation on this at USPC. -- Econterms (talk)
