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CPC field-specific training

B25F

Radu David June 2018Examiner, European Patent Office

European Patent Office 2

Overview

▪ Classification scheme

▪ Definitions and related fields

▪ Examples


Classification scheme

B25F group has about 23 000 documents.

The largest groups are:

5 920 documents – B25F5/00




The average group size is around 1 000 documents,

unevenly distributed.



As the aim of classification is the retrieval of technical subject-matter,

the search examiner in the field applies a mix of:

▪ Figure-feature search,

i.e. a search of features shown in figures

▪ Text-feature search,

i.e. a search for written features

When flipping through documents, in B25F, the search examiner mostly

looks at the figures, i.e. classification of the figures is often more

important than classification of the wording of broad and vague claims.



Since the variation of the technology in B25F is very large, it is worth

remembering the following points:

▪ B25F1 and its subgroups applies only for tools without motor

▪ B25F3 includes also adapters that could be plugged on a power unit

(i.e. motor) and have no other specific classification symbol (i.e. are

not chucks, saw heads etc.)

▪ B25F5/00, due to its size, must be used as much as possible only as

"last resort" and the documentation that is already classified in one of

its subgroups should only exceptionally receive the "/00" for another

technical disclosure if there is no other classification symbol

(i.e. B24B23, B25D17 etc.) attached to said technical disclosure

▪ B25F5/02 and its subgroups applies only for tools with motor



B25F1/00 – Combination or multi-purpose hand tools (non powered)

(associations of tools for different working operations with

one portable power-drive means B25F3/00;

combined stapling and punching tools B25C5/0214)

B25F1/003 – of pliers'-, scissors'- or wrench-type with at least one

movable jaw (B25F1/006 takes precedence)

B25F1/006 – with percussion tool-heads or -blades,

e.g. hammers, axes

B25F1/02 – with interchangeable or adjustable tool elements

B25F1/04 – wherein the elements are brought into working

positions by a pivoting or sliding movement



B25F3/00 – Associations of tools for different working operations

with one portable power-drive means; Adapters therefor

B25F5/00 – Details or components of portable power-driven tools

not particularly related to the operations performed and

not otherwise provided for

B25F5/001 – Gearings, speed selectors, clutches or the like

specially adapted for rotary tools

B25F5/003 – Stops for limiting depth in rotary hand tools

(for drilling tools: B23B49/003 )

B25F5/005 – Hydraulic driving means

B25F5/006 – Vibration damping means

B25F5/008 – Cooling means



B25F5/02 – Construction of casings, bodies or handles

(B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence)

B25F5/021 – with guiding devices (guiding devices for hand

tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078)

B25F5/022 – with incorporated levels

B25F5/023 – with removably attached levels

B25F5/024 – as part of an auxiliary handle

B25F5/025 – with torque reaction bars for rotary tools

B25F5/026 – in the form of an auxiliary handle

(B25F5/024 takes precedence)

B25F5/027 – with storage compartments



B25F5/028 – to be supported by a fixed object

B25F5/029 – with storage compartments

(B25F5/027 takes precedence; handles for non-

powered tools with provisions for storing

tool elements B25G1/08)


Overview



▪ Examples


Definitions and related fields

Synonyms and Keywords

In patent documents, the following words/expressions are often used

as synonyms:

▪ "power-driven" and "power assisted"

▪ "hand tool", "hand-held", "hand device", "hand operated" and

"hand actuated"

▪ "portable machine" and "portable equipment"



Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the

meaning indicated:

▪ Tool = Any portable instrument of operation for performing, assisting

the work or facilitating mechanical operations. Tools can be manually

operated or by machine tools, such as millers for milling machines.

Machine tools are not considered as tools.

▪ Hand tool = Device for performing work on a material or a physical

system using only muscular strength.

▪ Power-driven tool = Tool powered by a motor, e.g. electric, hydraulic,

pneumatic, fluid pressure.



Glossary of terms

▪ Association of power-driven tools = A power-driven object having two

or more tools, which are designed to perform different specific tasks,

e.g. a Proxxon®-type rotary power tool with exchangeable tools for

boring, milling, grinding, polishing, etc.

▪ Portable = Capable of being easily carried or conveyed.

▪ Multi-purpose tool = Device having or serving several purposes,

which may be either manual or power-driven, e.g. a tool with

interchangeable tool elements.



Glossary of terms

▪ Combination hand tools = Manually operated object involving two, or

possibly more than two (but a confined number of), clearly defined

purposes (having two or more tools put together for different

purposes), e.g. Gerber® multiplier tool.



B25F1/00 – Combination or multi-purpose hand tools (non powered)

This place covers:

▪ Associations of tools for different working operations,

without a power-drive means

This place does not cover:

▪ B25F3/00 – Associations of tools for different working operations with

one portable power-drive means

▪ B25C5/0214 – combined stapling and punching tools



Related fields of B25F1

A62B3/00Devices or single parts facilitating escape from buildings

or the like (i.e. rescue tools)

A63B29/08 Hand equipment for mountaineering

B23D79/00 Hand scraping implements

B25B7/22 Pliers provided with auxiliary tool elements

B25B13/00 Wrenches, spanners

B25B15/00 Screwdrivers

B25D1/00 Hand hammers

B25D7/00 Picks

B26B1/00 Hand knives with adjustable blade

B26B11/00 Hand knives combined with other implements



B25F3/00 – Associations of tools for different working operations

with one portable power-drive means;

Adapters therefor

This place covers:

▪ Associations of tools for different working operations, with a common

power-drive means.

▪ Different adapters mechanically associated with a core power unit.




B25F5/02Construction of casings, bodies or handles for

power tools

B23B45/003 Hand equipment for mountaineering

B23D57/0076Sawing machines or devices not covered – machines

for converting any machine for sawing purposes

B25B21/00,

B25B21/007

Portable power-driven screw or nut setting tools and

attachments therefor

B25B23/0007Details of, or accessories for spanners,

wrenches, screwdrivers



B25F5/00 - Details or components of portable power-driven tools

not particularly related to the operations performed and

not otherwise provided for

This place covers:

▪ Details or components of portable power-driven tools, e.g. handles or

accessories, and not entire power-driven tools




B05B9/08 Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. of knapsack type

B22D15/02Casting using a mould or core of cylinders, pistons, bearing shells

or like thin-walled objects

B23B45/00Hand-held or like portable drilling machines,

e.g. drill guns

B23D9/00Hand-operated planing devices; Portable

planing apparatus

B23D27/02 Hand-held devices for cutting by a nibbling action

B23Q 11/12Arrangements for cooling or lubricating parts of the machine

(e.g. drill)

B24B23/02Portable grinding machines, e.g. hand-guided; with rotating

grinding tools; Accessories therefor

B24B23/022Portable grinding machines, e.g. hand-guided; Accessories

therefor - spindle locking device




B24B41/007

Component parts such as frames, beds, carriages, headstocks.

Weight compensation; Temperature compensation;

Vibration damping

B25B21/00Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or

loosening tools

B25B23/141Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers -

Mechanical overload release couplings

B25D17/00 Details of portable power-driven percussive tools

B25D17/20Details of, or accessories for, portable power-driven percussive

tools - devices for cleaning or cooling tool or work

B26B25/00Hand cutting tools involving disc blades, e.g.

motor-driven

B26F1/00 Perforating; Punching; Cutting-out and Stamping-out

B27B9/00 Power-driven circular saws for manual operation




B27B17/0033 Chain saws - devices for vibration damping

B27B19/00 Other reciprocating saws with power drive; Fret-saws

B27C1/10 Hand planes equipped with power-driven cutter blocks

B27C5/10 Portable hand-operated wood-milling machines; Routers

F02B63/02Adaptations of engines for hand-held tools; Portable combinations

of engines with engine-driven devices

F0263/02

Adaptations of engines for driving pumps, hand-held tools or

electric generators; Portable combinations of engines with

engine-driven devices

F16F1/00,

F16F1/545Springs

F16F7/00,

F16F7/108Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers




F16P3/18

Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of

a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use

of two or more parts of the body-using both hands

F21V21/00Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for

lighting devices

H01H9/00Details of switching devices not covered by groups

H01H1/00-H01H7/00

H01H9/06Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other

than the actuation of the switch

H01M2/1022

Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-

active parts for miniature batteries or batteries for

portable equipment

H01R13/00 Details of coupling devices




H02J7/00Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising

batteries or for supplying loads from batteries

H02J7/0042

Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising

batteries or for supplying loads from batteries,

characterised by the mechanical construction

H02J7/0052

Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising

batteries or for supplying loads from batteries, charge

circuits only

H02K5/04Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape,

form or construction thereof (i.e. for electric motors)

H02K5/18Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape,

form or construction for cooling




H02K7/00

Arrangements for handling mechanical energy

structurally associated with the machine, e.g. structural

association with mechanical driving motor or auxiliary

dynamo-electric machine

H02K5/18Structural association with measuring or protective

devices or electric components



Workflow summary

▪ When flipping through documents, in B25F, the search examiner

mostly looks at the figures, i.e. classification of the figures is often

more important than classification of the wording of broad and vague

claims. Only in very large groups (i.e. B25F5/00), text search may be

used predominantly to filter out the "noise".

▪ Abstract and summary of the invention are usually enough to receive

additional "text" information.

▪ B25F5/00, due to its size, must be used as much as possible only as

"last resort" and the documentation that is already classified in one of

its subgroups should only exceptionally receive the "/00" for another

technical disclosure if there is no other classification symbol (i.e.

B24B23, B25D17 etc.) attached to said technical disclosure

▪ B25F5/02 and its subgroups applies only for tools with motor –

combinations with B25G are very rare


Overview



▪ Examples


Examples

Example 1

B25F1/003 – Multi-purpose pliers,

scissors or wrench

B25F1/04 – Multi-purpose tool

with interchangeable elements

brought in to position by pivoting

or sliding

US2016052120

Multifunctional welding apparatuses and methods of operating multifunctional

welding apparatuses are provided. The first head member and the second head

member are rotatably coupled to each other. The first tool is one of a pliers, a nozzle

removing tool, a tip removing tool, a wire cutting tool, a hammer and a cleaning tool.

The plurality of tools includes at least one of a thickness gauge, a scratching tool,

and a picking tool.


Examples

Example 2

B25F5/02 – Construction of

casings, bodies or handlesUS2015097641

A switch assembly includes a circuit board

mounted in the housing of an electric tool and

carrying multiple magnetic sensor components,

a first button having hooks slidably coupled to

the circuit board and a press portion exposed to

the outside of the housing for pressing by a

user and a first magnetic member mounted at

the press portion and movable with the first

button relative to the housing to induce and

change the magnetic flux of one magnetic

sensor component, and a second button

mounted in the housing and movable back and

forth relative to the housing and carrying a

second magnetic member that is movable with

the second button to induce and change the

magnetic flux of the other magnetic sensor

component.


Examples

Example 3

B25F5/006 – Vibration damping

B25F5/026 – Auxiliary handles

US2016129579

A side handle for a power tool includes a base, a grip with an elongated tubular inner

section having a first end and a second end, an outer sleeve which surrounds at

least part of the inner section. The outer sleeve is connected to the inner section at

the first end via a connecting section. The connecting section is resiliently

deformable to allow pivotal movement of the outer sleeve relative to the inner

section. Damping masses can be attached to the inner section and/or outer sleeve.

European Patent Office

US2016221085

A power tool and operation method for quick

locking and releasing working attachment thereof

are provided. The power tool includes a housing;

a motor in the housing; an output shaft driven by

the motor; and a chuck to lock and release a

working attachment, said chuck including a

chuck body coupled with the output shaft, jaws

movably disposed relative to the chuck body, and

a clamping sleeve outside the chuck body. The

clamping sleeve is movable with respect to the

chuck body so as to drive the jaws to retract and

open relative to the chuck body. A control

mechanism is operable to lock the clamping

sleeve or the chuck body relative to the housing,

and to control the motor initiating along a preset

rotary direction so that relative movement

between the clamping sleeve and the chuck body

is generated.

31

Examples

Example 4B25F5/029 – Casing with storage

compartments

B25F5/001 – Gearings, speed

selectors, clutches or the like

specially adapted for rotary tools

European Patent Office

DE102016213617

The invention relates to a filter support for a

handheld power tool, comprising at least one

filter support element, wherein the filter

support element has at least one receiving

opening designed to receive a filter element.

The filter elements of the filter support are

preferably associated with air inlet openings of

the handheld power tool and are designed to

filter dust particles and/or material particles

from a cooling air flow. The filter support can

be fastened to a handheld power tool by

means of a first and a second fastening

element, wherein the first and the second

fastening elements of the filter support can be

connected to each other. Advantageously, no

fastening elements are provided on the

handheld power tool.

32

Examples

Example 5

B25F5/008 – Cooling means

B25F5/02 – Construction of

casings, bodies or handles


Thank you for your attention !

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