subclass

Element Title: Sub Classification

Element Description: The U. S. Patent Classification consists of a class and subclass, both are required.

The subclass element consists of six alphanumeric characters.

Element Content:

(#PCDATA)

Element is Located in:

uspc

Element Attributes: None

Element Markup Instructions: Subclass positions 1-3 contain one of the following:

    - up to three numeric digits right justified with leading zeroes
    - "DIG" identifying a numbered digest
    - "FOR" identifying a foreign collection

and positions 4-6 contains one of the following:

    - (when positions 1-3 are all numeric) up to three numeric digits left justified with trailing zeroes
    - (when positions 4-6 contain alphabetic characters) up to three alphanumeric digits right justified with leading zeroes
    - (when positions 1-3 contain either "FOR" or DIG") up to three numeric digits right justified with leading zeroes

Subclass examples:
    001000
    010000
    258000
    002200
    00220A
    03800B
    17480E
    222100
    222020
    222110
    1700HM
    DIG001
    DIG246
    FOR222

Element Example:

<subclass>031000</subclass>