CPC Definition - Subclass F21L
This place covers:
- Lighting devices or systems of lighting devices which are specially adapted to be carried, e.g. by hand, or otherwise transported from place to place, e.g. on wheeled supports, in order to provide illumination where required. The light sources of the lighting devices may be either electrically powered (e.g. by electric batteries, electric cells, electric generators or cables for electric mains connection) or non-electrically powered (e.g. by combustion or daylight).
- Details and components specially adapted to be used for carrying or transporting lighting devices or systems of lighting devices.
The borderline between subclasses F21L and F21S is defined by the words "portable" and "fixed", not by "movable" and "non-movable". For example, lighting devices or systems used in the operation of vehicles, e.g. headlights, which are fixed on the vehicle and move together with the vehicle when it is travelling are considered to be non-portable, since they are components of the vehicle and fixed relative to the remainder of the vehicle at a permanent location. Such lighting devices are classified in subclass F21S. Lighting devices transported by a vehicle between locations and used for lighting purposes not related to the operation of the vehicle are classified in F21L.
Functional features or details of lighting devices or systems are classified in subclass F21V.
Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles are classified in F21V 33/00, unless specifically provided for in this subclass or elsewhere in the CPC.
Light sources per se are covered in places indicated in the section "Informative references".
Examples of places where the subject matter of this place is covered when specially adapted, used for a particular purpose, or incorporated in a larger system:
Light pointers | |
Flash units for photography | |
Transportable traffic lights |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles to be placed on roadways or vehicles | |
Candles | |
Incandescent bodies heated by combustion. e.g. mantles | |
Non-electric light sources using luminescence | |
Light sources using electrochemiluminescence | |
Light sources using charges of combustible material, e.g. illuminating flash devices | |
Light sources using semiconductor devices as light generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers | |
Light sources not otherwise provided for | |
Devices or systems intended for fixed installation, e.g. vehicle lighting, or for use essentially at a permanent location | |
Lighting devices intended to be free standing, e.g. table lamp or floor lamp | |
Non-electric lighting devices intended to be free-standing, e.g. table lamp, floor lamp | |
Details of portable lighting devices | |
Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for | |
Candle holders | |
Burners | |
Fireworks | |
Electric discharge tubes or discharge lamps | |
Electric incandescent lamps | |
Semiconductor devices specially adapted for light emission | |
Fastening electric light sources solely by the coupling device | |
Masers, lasers | |
Electric arc lamps | |
Electroluminescent light sources | |
Electric light sources using a combination of different types of light generation | |
Organic semiconductor devices specially adapted for light emission |
Non-electric lighting devices are classified in groups F21L 17/00 - F21L 26/00 only if a special adaptation related to the use of a non-electric light source is of interest. If there is no such special adaptation, classification is made in a relevant general place. In this subclass, it is desirable to add the Indexing Codes of subclasses F21W and F21Y.
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Light source | The entity (e.g. light bulb, fluorescent tube, gas mantle or combustible charge) that generates light for a lighting device. |
This place covers:
Set of plurality of identical portable lighting devices.
The following image shows an example of an identical portable lighting system.
This place does not cover:
Systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply, the lighting devices not being "portable" |
This place covers:
Electrical portable lighting devices being self-powered
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply, the lighting devices not being "portable" |
This place covers:
Flat type self-contained or battery-operated portable electric light
Torch
squeeze-activated flashlight
This place does not cover:
Pocket lamps characterised by the provision of two or more light sources | |
Pocket lamps characterised by the provision of a light source housing portion adjustably fixed to the remainder of the device | |
Pocket lamps characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells |
In patent documents, the following words/expressions are often used as synonyms:
- "flashlight", "pocket lamp" and "torch"
In this subclass, it is desirable to add the Indexing Codes of subclasses F21Y 2113/20
This place covers:
Pocket lamp, the light emitter of which being one or more LED
In this subclass, it is desirable to add the Indexing Codes F21Y 2101/00
This place covers:
Portable lighting device having a head portion mechanically attached to the body part and adjustably attached to it.
The following illustration shows light source housing (42) adjustably fixed to lantern body (22).
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Head portion attached to body part by means of flexible connecting sheath comprising electrical wires | |
Head portion of a lighting device being adjustable |
This place covers:
For example, note the following figure showing head portion (8) attached to body part (16) by means of flexible connecting sheath comprising electrical wires (14).
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Portable lighting device with a light source housing portion adjustably fixed to the remainder of the device |
This place covers:
Portable lighting device provided with connectors to connect the device to external power supply in order to recharge the batteries, e.g. with built-in accumulators
Portable lighting device provided with accumulators (not shaped like conventional batteries) that can be dismounted in order to be recharged on an external recharging base
Portable lighting devices with solar cells integrated to the body of the lamp
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries |
This place does not cover:
Electric lighting devices with solar cells |
This place covers:
Flashlight having manual charging device
This place covers:
Electric power device for portable device with a piezo-converter
Portable signal light with a self-generator
In this subclass, it is desirable to add the appropriate Indexing Codes of subclasses F21Y 2113/00
In this subclass, it is desirable to add the appropriate Indexing Codes of subclasses F21Y 2103/00
This place covers:
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Projector or searchlight on land vehicles |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Candle holders |
This place does not cover:
Fastening of component parts of the lighting devices |
This place does not cover:
In lighting devices employing combustion other than lanterns |