U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Information Products Division |
U.S. Patent Classification System - Classification Definitions
as of June 30, 2000
Patents classified in a subclass may be accessed by either clicking on
the subclass number
preceding each subclass definition or on the
" " icon, below.
( please note that patents for some subclasses may not be available )
For classification search strategies, please refer to the
Classification Index
Explanation of Data web page.
(definitions have been obtained from the
Patents ASSIST CD-ROM which
is produced by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Electronic Products Branch)
Class 968
HOROLOGY
Class Definition:
Class 968, Horology, {G04}, is used for optional searching.
As patents in the U.S. and other countries are published, the
examiners in the European Patent Office (EPO) receive the
patents for placement into their search files, i.e., the
European Patent Classifications (EPC). EPO examiners do not
depend upon the International Patent Classification (IPC's)
printed on the issuing documents for placement; they
reclassify each patent anew. All of the patents in Class 968
have been classified by EPO personnel.
In Class 968, no definitions are associated with the
cross-reference subclasses. The full extent of the types of
documents intended to be classified in a subclass are titles
and any associated notes. References to other areas of Class
968 are provided with the subclass title. Additional search
information relating to other areas of the International
Patent Classification (IPC) is also provided with the
subclass title.
The European Patent Classification used by EPO examiners is
not identical to the IPC. A number of classification areas
have been added to the IPC as a way to provide additional
search areas for the needs of EPO examiners. These areas are
identified in the EPC schedule as having alpha characters
added to the traditional IPC notation. At the end of each
digest, presented between brackets, is the classification
notation in the EPC which translates to that digest.
Class 968 has been presented in a manner consistent with the
presentation of search areas in the U.S. Manual of
Classification and is, in general, a replication of the G04
areas of the IPC.
Patents can be added to the newly created classifications in
the traditional manner, i.e., blue slips, miscellaneous
transfer, or 14B card. Patents can also be deleted by the
present method of submitting a copy of the document along
with a request to Search and Information Resources. Class 968
cannot accept an original classification.
It is the intention of Classification to maintain Class 968
in a form that reflects the current status of the EPC. As
patents are classified into the EPC, the class will be
updated to reflect the addition of the newly added
documents.
At the present time, some of the newly created subclasses do
not contain patents. It is anticipated that eventually every
subclass will provide an area that can be searched.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS
Digest 1 contains paper copies in numerical order of all the
patents found in subclasses 2-977. All subclasses as well as
digest 1 are searchable on the APS messenger system and in
all groups which have image search capability. At the time of
issue, the examiner should indicate on the blue slip for
digest 1 the appropriate subclasses to which a copy should be
added. At the same time, a copy MUST be indicated on the blue
slip for digest 1. Do not indicate a copy for digest 1
without adding a copy for subclasses 2-977.
Note the following:
(A) Subclasses 85-94 relate to transmission of the driving
force on the escape and on the regulation mechanism;
subclasses 95-102 relate to operating mechanisms; subclasses
103-138 relate to regulating mechanisms; subclasses 265-293
relate to frameworks, supports, or arrangements of the
clockwork parts in relation to each other, so-called
calibers; subclasses 394-380 relate to protection of the
clockwork against damage from the outside; subclasses 381-416
relate to clocks with unusual features; subclasses 426-505
relate to electric winding of mechanical clocks such as
independent electric clocks or watches whereas subclasses
426-633 include electric features of mechanically driven
clocks or watches, such as electric winding of such clocks or
the provision of electric contacts thereon; subclasses
506-563 relate to electric clock installations,
master-and-slave clock systems, and synchronous-motor clocks;
subclasses 564-644 relate to indicating the time or producing
electrically; subclasses 801-856 include apparatus for
measuring off predetermined time intervals, apparatus for
producing such intervals as timing standards, e.g.,
metronomes, etc., and apparatus for measuring unknown
intervals; subclasses 876-877 cover electronic timepieces
with nonmoving parts (electronic timepieces with moving parts
are covered by subclasses 426-633) and electronic circuitry
for producing timing pulses irrespective of the nature of the
time-indicating means utilized.
(B) Apparatus or tools specially designed for making or
maintaining clocks or watches is in subclasses 651+ and
machine tools, in general, in B23 and B24; handtools, in
general, in B25 (G04D).
(C) Time interval measuring in subclasses 801+ and measuring
pulse characteristics in G01R, e.g., G01R 21/02, in radar or
like systems G01S, masers in H01S 1/00, generation of
oscillations in H03B, generation or counting or pulses,
frequency dividing, analog/digital conversion in H03K, and
time fuses in F42C 9/00 (G04F).
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
2 through 282 and 284-416, for mechanically driven clocks or
watches, mechanical parts of clocks or watches, timepieces
using the position of the sun, moon, or stars; specifically
subclasses 2-22 for driving mechanisms, subclasses 23-68 for
combined normal and automatic winding, subclasses 69-84 for
supervision of winding parts, subclasses 85-138 for clock
movement such as escapement, frequency stabilization, and
setting frequency gearwork; subclasses 139-247 for time
indicating, subclasses 248-284 for time setting, subclasses
265-292 for frameworks, supports, and calibers; subclass 293
for the adjusting of clock movement, and subclasses 381-416
for protection of clockwork such as cases, crystals, glasses,
and other protection means.
11 for composition and manufacture of the springs, see
specifically subclass 94 for compositions and manufacture of
components, wheels, spindles, pivots, etc.; subclass 102 for
compositions of component escarpments, subclass 111 for
composition and manufacture of hairsprings, subclass 126 for
compensation for the effects of variations of temperature of
springs using alloys, subclass 271 for materials for bearings
of clockworks; (C22C for iron and steel alloys, C2ID 8/00 for
heat treatment and chemical or mechanical treatment for
control of the structure, and C22C and B22F for nonferrous
alloys) {G04B 1/14B}.
16 for protecting arrangements against rupture or
overwinding of the mainspring located in the barrel or
attached to the barrel; see specifically subclass 15 for
protecting arrangements whereby the spring and the spring
cylinder are connected by friction, subclasses 36 and 38 for
keys or the like, subclass 66 for automatic winding devices,
subclass 71 for protecting arrangements, subclass 292 for
calibers with arrangements affording protection of the
clockwork against damage as a consequence of a rupture of the
mainspring, subclass 443 for electric winding arrangements
with protection against overwinding of mechanical clockworks;
(G11B 19/22, 19/28 for driving mechanism for gramophones)
{G04B 1/20}.
23 for normal winding of clockworks by hand or mechanically;
winding up several mainsprings or driving weights
simultaneously; see specifically subclass 40 for automatic
winding up, subclass 68 for combined normal and automatic
winding up, subclass 73 for click devices, subclass 228 for
winding up and striking mechanism by the clockwork and vice
versa, subclasses 255 and 263 for mechanical devices for
setting the time-indication by using the winding means,
subclass 291 for calibers of which the mainsprings are easily
removable, subclass 426 for winding mechanical clocks
electrically, subclass 673 for tools for setting springs;
(G11B 19/00 for driving mechanism for gramophones, G03B 1/00
for driving mechanism for cinematographies) {G04B 3/00}.
94 for assembly and manufacture, specifically subclass 11
for manufacture of springs, subclass 102 for component parts
and manufacture of the escape wheel, subclass 685 for
machines and tools for the manufacture of chain wheels for
clocks; (C21C 33/00-41/00 for steel alloys, B29 for
manufacture of pinions from synthetic material, C22C for
nonferrous alloys, B23F for pinions manufactured by milling
and planing, G04B 13/02R for operating mechanisms).
426 through 633, for electromechanical clocks or watches;
specifically 426-445 for electrical winding of mechanical
clocks, subclasses 446-497 for electromechanical clock
movements and electric or magnetic escapements, subclasses
564-604 for time indicating by optical and acoustical means,
subclasses 498-502 for time setting, subclasses 503-505 for
power supplies, subclasses 506-563 for synchronization,
master-and-slave clock system, and synchronous-motor clocks;
and subclasses 605-633 for clocks for operating a device at a
preselected time.
651 through 783, for apparatus or tools specifically
designed for making or maintaining clocks or watches;
specifically subclasses 651-745 for hand and machine tools,
subclasses 746 and 747 for lubricating devices, subclasses
748-782 for measuring and testing apparatus, and subclass 783
for demagnetizing devices.
801 through 858 for time interval measuring, specifically
subclasses 801-816 for measuring predetermined time intervals
with or without driving mechanisms, subclasses 817-830 for
measuring predetermined time intervals producing time
standards, and subclasses 831-856 for measuring unknown time
intervals.
subclasses 875+ for electromechanical clocks or watches,
such as mechanical parts or pieces with no moving parts and
electronic circuitry for producing timing pulses, (G04C).
876 through 977, for electronic timepieces; specifically
subclasses 901-905 for producing timing pulses, subclasses
906-924 for time setting and synchronizing, subclasses
925-974 for time-indicating or date-indicating, and
subclasses 975-977 for operating a device at preselected
times.
Information Products Division -- Contacts
Questions regarding this report should be directed to:
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Information Products Division
PK3- Suite 441
Washington, DC 20231
tel: (703) 306-2600
FAX: (703) 306-2737
email: oeip@uspto.gov
Last Modified: 6 October 2000