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Chapter Table of Contents
The Design classification schedule of the USPC system provides a structured organization for the body of U.S. Design patents. Since the claim of a Design Patent is directed to "an ornamental design" for "an article of manufacture" [35 USC 171], the Design classification schedule promotes efficient access to industrial designs that have been granted patent rights. Classification of design patents is based on the concept of function or intended use of the industrial design disclosed and claimed in the Design patent. Industrial designs that have the same function are generally collected in the same Design class, even though individual designs may be used in different environments. For example, patented designs for seating are classified in class D6, Furnishings, even though these designs may be used in the home, workplace, vehicles, etc. Industrial designs of the same function are further classified by specific functional feature, distinctive ornamental appearance, or form. U.S. Design patents are classified into 33 classes of subject matter:
Each Design class is organized into subclasses to permit efficient searching for specific types of industrial designs. A subclass is a collection of design patents found in a Design Class, which pertain to a particular function, a specific functional feature, or distinctive ornamental appearance or form. For example, the subject matter in class D6, Furnishings, is classified by function into broad subclasses of similar types of furnishings—seating, work surfaces, storage, furniture parts and elements, etc. Because there are so many patented designs for the same general types of furnishings, this subject matter is further classified into subordinate or "indented" subclasses to promote efficient access to specific types of industrial designs. As further illustration, there are too many Design patents for seating in Class D6 for efficient searching in a single subclass. Accordingly, an array of indented subclasses of various types of seating has been developed. These subclasses are as follows:
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Where a subordinate subclass contains a large number of industrial designs, this subject matter may be further classified into additional subordinate subclasses. For example, the classification of Swinging or rocking type seating (D6-344) has been expanded into an array of subordinate subclasses according to functional type and by ornamental appearance or form in subclasses D6-345 through D6-348. A search of the broad or general subclass and its indented subclasses is designed to be comprehensive and should include all pertinent designs for the subject matter specified in the subclass title. Unique to Design patent subclass titles is the term "simulative." This term is used to refer to Design patents that look like or simulate the appearance of another article either by the use of applied ornamentation or form. For example, Class D1, Edible Products, contains an array of subclasses under the heading of Simulative (see subclasses 107 - 115 below). These subclasses contain patented designs for edible food products that simulate the appearance of other articles. D1-113 contains edible food products that simulate vehicles or parts of vehicles, such as a "car" or a "vehicle wheel". D1-107 contains patented designs for edible products that look like animals. Indented under this subclass is D1-108, which contains designs for edible food products that simulate the human body. Indented under D1-108 is D1-109 which contains patented designs for edible products which simulate a "[Human] Head or other appendage."
There is no relationship between the titles and numerical designations used in Design schedules and those in Utility classes. A directory of Utility and Design titles and subject matter can be found in the Index to the US Patent Classification System. At present, there are no formal definitions for the terms used in the schedules. The meanings of the terms used in the Design class and subclass titles are based on the common dictionary definitions. However, formal definitions for each design class and subclass are being developed and will be published at a future date. When formal definitions are published, exclusion and search notes will no longer be necessary for Design Classes (see Sections F1 and F2 below.)The principle of hierarchy used to classify utility patents, as outlined in Section V of this Handbook, also applies to the classification of Design patents. Design patents are placed as original documents (ORs) in the first of pertinent subject matter and subsequently in the first pertinent subclass or indented subclass of the Design class. Design patents that have been placed in one class as an OR will appear in other Design or Utility subclasses only as supplemental or (XR) documents. For example, Design patents for airplanes are properly classified as ORs in Class D12, Transportation. However, if a particular airplane design is considered to be a useful reference that should be included with the collection of industrial designs for toy airplanes, an XR may be classified in one or more subclasses for toy airplanes in Class D21, Games, Toys, Exercise Equipment and Sports Goods. Conversely, if a Design patent for a toy airplane is believed to be pertinent or similar in appearance to designs for a genuine airplane, an XR may be classified in Class D12.
Exclusion Notes in Design classification are used to clarify the subject matter in each Design class. Exclusion Notes are found at the beginning of each Design class and must be considered when planning a search for a particular industrial design. Review of the Exclusion Notes will ensure that certain subject matter has not been classified in another Design class. For example, in Class D6, Furnishings, the Exclusion Notes state that ornamental designs for wheelchairs are excluded and are classified in Class D12, Transportation. Another example: Class D10, Measuring, Testing or Signaling Instruments provides for clocks. However, the D10 Exclusion Notes indicate that Design patents for clocks combined with a radio or television are classified in Class D14, Recording, Communication or Information Retrieval Equipment. The Exclusion Notes further indicate that Design patents "for clocks combined with a sign or display equipment" are classified in D20, Sales and Advertising Equipment. Again, Exclusion Notes will become unnecessary when formal definitions are published for Design Classes and Subclasses. Design Classes also use Search Notes placed after some subclass titles and/or at the end of each Design class schedule. Search Notes are used to explain the subject matter found in a specific subclass. For example, the subclass title of Class D6, subclass 344 is "Seating unit." A Search Note (7) has been added in parentheses immediately after the subclass title. This Note (7), found at the end of the D6 schedule, states "for leg, see subclass 495+," meaning that although the design patents in D6-334 and its indented subclasses may include ornamental designs that include disclosures of seating type legs, D6-495 and its indented subclasses contain additional designs for furniture legs. In some cases, a search note immediately following the subclass title further explains the subject matter in the subclass. For example:
The note "i.e., without armrest and backrest" further clarifies the nature of the subject matter classified in this particular subclass. Note (14) of this same subclass title is found at the end of the D6 schedule and explains: "For bench type seating with an armrest, see subclass 355. For straddle type seat, see subclass 354. " Cross-Reference Art Collections are collections of patents for subject matter that is not specifically provided for in a particular subclass. This subject matter is generally very diverse, broad in scope, and includes industrial designs that have multiple functions. Cross-Reference Art Collections provide an overview of certain subject matter and should be included in a comprehensive search.For example, at the end of the schedule for Class D3, Travel Goods, Personal Belongings, and Storage or Carrying Articles, Cross-Reference Art Collections are provided for Briefcase, Tool Box or Tackle Box and Cosmetic Case. There are no subclasses for this subject matter in the Design schedule since the scope of the subject matter is too diverse to be classified in a single subclass or array of subclasses. A review of these Cross-Reference Art Collections provides a perspective of the specified type of subject matter and can be used to find Design patents pertinent to a particular search. Each document in the collection has an OR classification in the USPCS, which can be used to locate additional subject matter with a similar specific function or ornamental appearance. are informal collections of Design patents, Utility patents, and non-patent literature. Digests have been compiled by patent examiners as collections of industrial designs to provide a "shortcut" to a comprehensive search of a specific art. For example, for the convenience of examiners searching tool handles, Class D8, Tools and Hardware, contains an array of Handle Digests with collections of different types of patented handles found throughout the Design and Utility patent schedules. All patents in a Digest are classified as ORs in the appropriate Design and Utility classes but are not available as a unitary search in a specific subclass. As with Utility patents, no Design patent may issue as an OR in Cross-Reference Art Collections or Digests. Design patents are classified as ORs in the first Design class that contains subject matter most pertinent to the subject matter claimed. Within the Design Class the patent is classified in the first pertinent subclass or indented subclass that describes the specific function, intended use, or ornamental features of the design claimed. If an OR does not meet the criteria of any particular subclass title, the OR is placed in the most appropriate general or broad subclass of the particular Design class. When a Design patent includes more than one embodiment of an industrial design, the patent is classified as an OR according to the first embodiment shown in the drawing disclosure. Additional classifications are placed for the additional embodiments as XRs in the appropriate Design Class and subclass. If the subject matter of any Design patent is considered pertinent to an additional subclass or subclasses, XRs of the patent may be included at the discretion of the Design classifier. If a Design patent claims a combined article, such as a clock radio, the patent is classified as an OR according to the Exclusion and Search Notes or in the first pertinent Design class and subclass that provides for the subject matter claimed. XRs of the patent may be placed as necessary. In Design patent practice, mandatory XRs are not required. U.S. Design patents issued after May 6, 1997, are assigned a Locarno International Classification for Industrial Designs in addition to the U.S. classification. Dual classification is provided to improve access to U.S. Design patents in foreign search files that are based on the Locarno International Classification system, which is administered by the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO). The structure of the Locarno International Classification System for Industrial Designs is substantially parallel to that of the U.S. system. The Locarno system classifies industrial designs according to function in 34 classes, which contain substantially the same subject matter as their USPC counterparts. Accordingly, the subject matter found in U.S. class D1 or class D2, etc., will be substantially the same as that found in Locarno Class 01, Class 02, etc. The exception is Locarno Class 31-00, Machines and Appliances for Preparing Food or Drink not Elsewhere Specified. All of the material found in Locarno Class 31-00 is included in U.S. Class D7, Equipment for Preparing or Serving Food or Drink Not Elsewhere Specified. The USPC system has many more Design subclasses than the Locarno system. For example, Class D21 has 540 subclasses. Locarno Class 21-00 has only 5 subclasses. The larger number of subclasses available in the USPC provides improved access to patented industrial designs through more detailed designation of subclasses for subject matter. Locarno designations may be used to search U.S. Design patents with the Automated Patent Search (APS) system available at USPTO and some Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries. General questions about how to use the USPC for Design patents can be directed to the USPTO Information Line and Patent Assistance Center at 1-800-PTO-9199 or in the Washington, D.C., area at (703)308-4357. Further inquiry should be addressed to Charles A. Rademaker at (571)272-2643 or by e-mail to: charles.rademaker@uspto.gov ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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