EPO – Principal Directorate Business Services – Directorate Classification
Project: F025
Subject: Arrangement of Road
Signs or Traffic Signals
Comments
IPC: E01F
07 May 2014
Ref.:
Annex 1 Revision request with proposal (JP, 13-Mar-14)
Annex 2 Comments (SE, 09-Apr-14)
Annex 3 Rapporteur Report (JP, 02-May-14)
Background
EPO supports JPO proposal for introduction of CPC E01F based scheme as already
indicated in P113. SE suggested restructuring by introduction of supplementary
subgroups.
Comments
EPO welcomes SE proposal and supports the introduction of new head groups for
rearrangement of groups 9/011 to 9/03 with the help of 3 new 2 indent groups.
SE proposed 9/36 “characterised by the purpose” should be maintained. This new
head group would help to organise the 3 groups 9/34, 9/36 and 9/38. Additionally, as
already stated by SE, the new head group would serve as residual place for subjectmatter not covered by its subgroups, which would increase the flexibility of the new
scheme.
Modifications introduced by JP concerning creation of groups 9/32 and 9/34 based
on sources 9/0111 and 9/0112 are not supported. A titl modification of group 9/30 in
combination with proposed purpose-group 9/34 would provide coverage for all types
of post and bollards.
We would prefer deletion of sources 9/0112, 9/0118, 9/0184, 9/0186, 9/0188, 9/0115,
9/0116 and 9/0124. These groups are not very active and would create an
unnecessary detailed IPC.
Subgroup 9/69 (source 9/014) should be a two indent group, the covered subjectmatter being the process of placing, collecting or storing (i.e. handling) the marking
devices in contrast to new 9/50 covering the means for fixing the marking devices to
a supporting structure. This would define a range 9/50-9/66 of classification places
for devices (fixing means) and a separate place 9/69 for the process of handling. The
wording “or placement” was removed from 9/46 and the indent number accordingly.
Proposed subgroup 9/69 was moved back to the more appropriate 9/32 range
“characterised by the purpose”.
SE proposed to place markings on road surfaces in the same 9/08 range as traffic
lines. JP prefers separation of road surface markings in range 9/041 to 9/044 and
traffic lines in 9/08 to 9/093. EPO prefers separation according to JP proposal, which
is in line with actual CPC.
To avoid an unnecessary detailed IPC, deletion of 9/0533, 9/0536, 9/071, 9/073, and
9/076 is proposed.
Further issues
There seems to be a scope overlap between 9/041and the narrower 9/0805, which is
limited to “Traffic lines”. This could be corrected by deletion of 9/0805 and reducing
the indent number of 9/083 and 9/085. Group 9/041 is used in CPC as orthogonaltype group for the whole 9/04 range, including traffic lines. Deletion of 9/085 would
therefore be in line with proven CPC practice.
Measures to avoid possible scope overlap between E01F9/007 “Marking means
...reacting to adverse ...conditions” and E01F11/00 “Embedding pads or other
sensitive devices in paving or other road surfaces” should be considered. This could
be solved for example by clarifying in the definitions, that E01F9/007 is a place for
signalling information and E01F11/00 for detecting road conditions, e.g. traffic,
temperature and the like.
Numbering and references are provisionally.
Modified proposal based on JP report
Proposed IPC
E01F9/00
Dots
C
N
N
E01F9/002
E01F9/005
・
・
N
E01F9/007
・
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
E01F9/011
E01F9/012
E01F9/013
E01F9/014
E01F9/015
E01F9/016
E01F9/017
Title
Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements
for enforcing caution, e.g. speed bumps (for obstructing or
restricting traffic E01F13/00)
Use of light guides, e.g. fibre optic devices
Marking means interacting with transmitters or receivers
otherwise than by visible means, e.g. using radar reflectors
or radio transmitters (E01F11/00 takes precedence)
Marking means automatically reacting to adverse
atmospheric conditions, e.g. to signal icy roads or light up in
fog; Marking or traffic control means characterised by
heating or drying arrangements
(transferred to E01F9/30 - E01F9/69)
(transferred to E01F9/43, E01F9/66, E01F9/67)
(transferred to E01F9/62)
(transferred to E01F9/69)
(transferred to E01F9/47)
(transferred to E01F9/46)
(transferred to E01F9/44)
Source
9/00
9/002
9/005
9/007
Dots
D
D
D
C
Proposed IPC
E01F9/018
E01F9/019
E01F9/03
E01F9/04
N
E01F9/041
・・
N
E01F9/042
・・・
N
E01F9/044
・・・
U
E01F9/047
・・
C
E01F9/053
・・
D
E01F9/0533
・・・
D
C
E01F9/0536
E01F9/06
・・・
・・
N
C
D
E01F9/065
E01F9/07
E01F9/071
・・・
・・・
・・・・
D
E01F9/073
・・・・
D
E01F9/076
・・・・
C
D
E01F9/08
E01F9/0805
・・
・・・
N
E01F9/081
・・・
N
E01F9/083
・・・
N
D
E01F9/085
E01F9/086
・・・
・・・・・
U
E01F9/087
・・・
U
E01F9/093
・・・
・
Title
(transferred to E01F9/45 - E01F9/458)
(transferred to E01F9/41, E01F9/42)
(transferred to E01F9/57)
Road surface markings; Kerbs or road edgings, specially
adapted for informing road users, e.g. illuminated (for
redirecting vehicles E01F15/00)
characterised by the material, e.g. additives for improving
friction or reflectivity, for road surface markings; Methods of
forming, installing or applying markings in, on or to road
surfaces (E01F9/047, E01F9/053, E01F9/06, E01F9/08 take
precedence)
Preformed markings, e.g. materials for sheets or signs;
Methods of bonding same to road surface
Reflecting elements specially adapted for incorporation in or
application to road surface markings
specially adapted for audible or vibrational signalling, e.g.
rumble strips, or for enforcing reduced speed, e.g. speed
bumps
Kerbs or road edgings, specially adapted for informing road
users
Raised kerbs, e.g. with reflective surfaces; Traffic-actuated
cleaning means for kerb reflectors; Signs or display means
specially adapted for association with raised kerbs, e.g. for
indicating street names
illuminated kerbs; Kerbs with illuminated signs or displays
Low-built discrete bodies, e.g. marking blocks, studs or
flexible vehicle-striking members
Illuminated
having deflectable or displaceable parts
returning to normal position after being deflected or
displaced
with vertical displacement under load, e.g. with concurrent
rotational movement
Self-righting markers; Upright flexible or rockable markers,
e.g. resilient flaps
Traffic lines
characterised by the material, e.g. additives for improving
friction or reflectivity; Methods of forming, installing or
applying markings in, on or to road surfaces
Markings formed in situ, e.g. by painting, by casting into the
road surface or by deforming the road surface (materials
therefor E01F9/041)
Markings consisting of preformed elements, e.g. tapes or
block-type elements
Illuminated traffic lines
Reflecting elements specially adapted for incorporation in or
application to road surface markings
Lane delineators for physically separating traffic lanes and
discouraging but not preventing crossing
movable for repeated use at different locations
Source
9/04
9/041
9/042
9/044
9/047
9/053
9/0533
9/0536
9/06
9/065
9/07
9/045
9/073
9/076
9/08
9/041
9/081
9/042,
9/083
9/085
9/044
9/087
9/093
N
Proposed IPC
E01F9/30
Dots
・
D
D
N
N
D
E01F9/32
E01F9/34
E01F9/32
E01F9/34
E01F9/36
・・
・・・
・・
・・・
・・・
N
E01F9/38
・・・
N
N
E01F9/40
E01F9/41
・・
・・・
D
E01F9/42
・・・
N
E01F9/43
・・・
N
E01F9/44
・・・
N
E01F9/45
・・・
N
D
D
D
N
E01F9/452
E01F9/454
E01F9/456
E01F9/458
E01F9/46
・・・・
・・・・
・・・・
・・・・
・・・
N
N
N
E01F9/47
E01F9/50
E01F9/53
・・・
・・
・・・
N
E01F9/55
・・・
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
D
E01F9/57
E01F9/60
E01F9/61
E01F9/62
E01F9/63
E01F9/64
E01F9/66
E01F9/67
E01F9/69
・・・
・・・
・・・・
・・・・
・・・・
・・・・
・・・
・・・・
・・・・
N
E01F9/69
・・
Title
Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards, milestones,
delineator posts; Supports for road signs
Posts or bollards, e.g. milestones
Delineator posts
characterised by the purpose
for guiding, warning or controlling traffic
for marking road edges, e.g. with parts extending towards
the roadway
for indicating freshly applied road surface markings, e.g. for
straddling lines
characterised by form or functional features
extensible, collapsible or pivotable (E01F9/44, E01F9/45
take precedence)
with rotatable, swingable or adjustable signs or signals
(E01F9/41 takes precedence)
in the form of three-dimensional bodies, e.g. cones; capable
of assuming three-dimensional form, e.g. by inflation or
erection to form a geometric body
self-righting after deflection or displacement
specially adapted for breaking, disengaging, collapsing or
permanent deformation upon deflection or displacement,
e.g. upon vehicle impact
by shearing or tearing, e.g. having weakened zones
by connection of the slide-shoe type
by connection of stud-and-socket type, e.g. spring-loaded
friction-coupled
illuminated
with reflectors, e.g. with means for keeping reflectors clean
characterised by means for fixing
mounted on vehicles, e.g. service vehicles; Warning
vehicles travelling along with road-maintenance, e.g.
remotely controlled
Overhead structures, e.g. gantries; Foundation means
specially adapted therefor
for fastening to safety barriers or the like
Means for holding traffic poles
by adhesives, e.g. by gluing to the road surface
removable without tools, e.g. of stud-and-socket type
by removable means, e.g. screws or bolts
Subsoil means, e.g. foundations
Free-standing bodies
Portable base members
for indicating freshly applied road surface markings, e.g. for
straddling lines
Storing, transporting, placing or retrieving portable devices
Source
9/011
9/0111
9/0112
New
9/0111
9/0112
9/0128
New
9/019
9/0118
9/0122
9/017,
9/0175
9/018
9/0182
9/0184
9/0186
9/0188
9/016,
9/0165
9/015
New
9/0126
9/0113
9/03
9/0114
9/0115
9/013
9/0116
9/0117
9/012
9/0124
9/0128
9/014
Coordinator:
Gerhard Peschel; gpeschel@epo.org