Cleaning devices used for cleaning any parts of the vehicle and being fixed to the vehicle (defogging devices, wipers for windscreen or rear windows, nozzles distributing washing liquid, scrapers fixed to the wheels, ...).

The cleaning devices being separate to the vehicle are to be found under B60S 3/00.

Heated wires embedded in the windshield are to be found in H05B 3/84 and defrosting by deflecting air from the air-conditioning unit is classified in B60H. B60S 1/023 is therefore only concerned with the specific control of the defrosting (in particular automatic control using sensors for external conditions)

Hydrophobic films when applied to windscreens are both classified in B60S 1/02 and C09K 3/18.

The group B60S 1/0818 and subgroups are concerned with rain sensors for automatic control of the windscreen wipers. The documents concerned with the type of detection should have both a classification in B60S 1/0818 or subgroups and a classification in the corresponding type of detection (optical detection G01N 21/45, by varying capacitance G01N 27/22). When the document is about a multi-functional camera, only an Indexing Code (namely B60S 1/0844) but no EC symbol is given to this document. The groups for those documents should be either stereoscopic detection H04N 13/00 or image or video understanding of scenes exterior to a vehicle G06V 20/56.

The group B60S 1/0848 concerns the cleaning of cameras when the camera is used as a rain sensor for controlling the wipers on the vehicle. Automatic cleaning of cameras is classified under H04N. Cleaning of radars or external cameras installed on vehicles (by wipers or heating devices) are classified in B60S 1/56.

The documents concerned with the electric wiper motors are normally classified in H02K 7/116 but get a classification in B60S 1/166 as well. The same rule applies to gearings F16H 1/00, ball-joints F16C, sealings F16F or other functional fields.

The extrusion of the wiper rubber is classified in B29C 69/00, only an Indexing Code (B60S 2001/3898) is given in our field. The same applies to the chemical composition of coatings for wiper blade rubbers, the relevant field being C08J 7/00 and the Indexing Code B60S 2001/3829.

Packaging for wiper blades are both classified in B60S 1/38 (if applicable B60S 1/3848) and B65D.

Washing liquid nozzles having specific features for creating a specific spray (e.g. fluidic oscillators) are both classified in B60S 1/52 and B05B.

Water heaters for heating washing liquid for windscreen washer reservoirs are both classified in B60S 1/488 and F24H 1/12. Documents showing reservoirs of washing liquid can also be classified in pumps (F04D), liquid level indicator (G01F 23/00), funnels (B67C 11/00) or front structure of car body (B62D 25/08). Some reservoirs are combined with cooling fluid expansion reservoirs for heating purposes, they should get both classifications B60S 1/487 and F01P 11/029 .

The group B60S 1/54 is concerned with cleaning by using air. However, defrosters for the windscreen deflecting air from the air-conditioning device are classified in B60H.

The group B60S 1/56 is concerned with cleaning of other part or devices than the front window. However a specific group exist in B60R 1/06 for cleaning rear-view mirrors. When cleaning is made using a wiper, a relevant classification for wipers in groups B60S 1/04 - B60S 1/44 is added.

The groups B60S 1/04 - B60S 1/44 are concerned with windscreen wipers and their different consisting parts (mounting on the vehicle B60S 1/04, electric control B60S 1/08, motor-reduction units B60S 1/166, transmissions B60S 1/18 - B60S 1/24, wiper arms B60S 1/34, wiper blades* B60S 1/38, Connection between wiper arm and wiper blade B60S 1/40).

* The term "wiper blade" relates to the wiper squeegee (wiping lip) together with its support structure. The structure is either made of articulated elements (B60S 1/3801) or from a single flat element (flat-type wiper blade B60S 1/3848). A flat-type wiper blade should always either get an EC or an Indexing Code under B60S 1/3848 even if only visible on the figures (this remark is particularly relevant for documents concerned with connectors for wiper blade and wiper arm).

Warning : A series of Indexing Codes B60S 2001/3812 - B60S 2001/3846 does not have a corresponding EC classification. They are however to be used when their titles correspond specifically to the wiper blades described in the documents.

The flat-type wiper blades B60S 1/3848 have a corresponding EC/Indexing Code scheme except for B60S 2001/3898 (only Indexing Code). Here the general rule applies: Invention information under EC - Additional information under Indexing Code

The blade-arm connection does not have a corresponding EC or Indexing Code scheme. Some specific details of connections are only present in the Indexing Code scheme. The document got usually the best relevant EC classification. If the best classification is an Indexing Code symbol, this Indexing Code is given together with one EC and other Indexing Codes related to additional information.

Washing bays and separate hand-held devices specific for cleaning vehicles. The term vehicles has to be understood in its broad sense as cleaning devices for golf carts, shopping trolleys or wheelchairs are also classified here.

Cleaning of car structure (for example before painting) is not covered by this groups as it concerns only complete vehicle being in use. Cleaning of dismounted wheels can however be found under B60S 3/042.

Documents relating to cleaning in general are classified in B08B.

Bicycle chain cleaners are classified in B60S 3/041 and B62J.

Documents showing ice-scrapers, mops or window-cleaning are only classified in A47L except if only used in combination with a vehicle (in this case the classification B60S 3/045 is added).

When a document discloses the characteristics of a brush for car wash systems, it should be both classified in B60S 3/06 and in A46B.

Washing with textiles curtains strips should be classified in B60S 3/04 and not in B60S 3/06 (rotating brushes).

Methods for repairing and the combination of services.

Very few documents are present in this group as there seem always to be a better place to classify these documents. JPO seem to use it more frequently.

Tools or bench devices : B25B 1/00

Registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C 5/00

This group is only concerned with the exterior arrangement of service station plants but not with the dispensing of the fuel itself which is classified in subclass B67D. Documents in this group are concerned with mobile fuel stations, arrangement of service or technical rooms, arrangement of other services like cleaning, tyre air refill or similar subject matter.

Air supply for vehicle tyre inflation.

Service stations with an automatic system for recharging batteries, without battery exchange, are classified in B60L 53/50.

Exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles is covered by B60L 53/80.

Only supporting devices being fixed to the vehicle.

Documents in that group are concerned with vehicles presenting supporting elements for receiving separate lifting devices i.e. devices which are not an integral part of the vehicle (like the classical scissors jack for example).

Only turntables or traverses specifically designed to move vehicles