United States Patent and Trademark Office
WIPO Revision Working Group
Topic: WG111 - Project 701
Date: February 28, 2006
Appropriateness of Introducing Residual
Main Group in E01D
Proposal by Rapporteur of D031
In Annex 27 of WG111, the IPC/WG requested Rapporteurs for the existing definition
projects covering a respective subclass among the subclasses without consensus on the
appropriateness of introducing a residual main group into their subclass scheme to review
the need for a residual main group in that subclass. The Rapporteurs for the definition
projects should take into account the different opinions submitted in the course of
projects R701 to R706 and submit their recommendations to the corresponding R701 R706 project.
In Annex 6 of Project 701, the following various opinions were stated by Offices for
subclass E01D:
DE thinks that a residual group is needed and SE does not think a residual group
is needed. SE states in project C428 “We do not think a residual main group is
needed. Wasn’t 24/00 proposed in order to provide for the only missing part of
the scope? What can possibly be left that isn’t covered by existing groups together
with the new 24/00?”
At first, the Rapporteur of D031 tended to completely agree with SE’s assessment since
the definition statement seemed fully coextensive in scope to the scheme. However, in an
attempt to play devil’s advocate for creating a general residual group, Rapporteur tried to
come up with simple structures that might not be covered. Since all the parts of a bridge
and the methods and apparatus associated with bridges are clearly provided for in the
scheme, the only things left to test would be “bridges as a whole” or “accessories or
ancillary devices for bridges”.
In our opinion “bridges as a whole” are fully covered in the subclass. A very simple
example of a bridge as a whole not specifically specified by a particular type of bride is a
wood plank placed over a stream and secured. This would clearly fit within the subclass
definition statement and main group E01D 1/00 “Bridges in general”. In fact, group
E01D 1/00 could probably be reworded “Bridges not specifically provided for elsewhere
in the subclass” since Rapporteur could think of no examples of “bridges as a whole” that
would not at least fit within this group’s scope.
However, the portion of the definition statement “Accessories or ancillary devices
specially adapted for use with spanning structures (e.g., drawbridge gates that are
actuated when the span moves)” also needed to be investigated. This section was added
to the definition statement to cover detail-type subject matter similar to that found within
group E01D 19/10 that was not needed for the construction or structure of a bridge to
operate but was specially adapted for use with a bridge as an enhancing feature.
The attached annex shows examples of patent documents that are currently classified in
E01D 19/00+. These documents may go beyond the scope of any of the existing main
groups but are a very small portion of the total documents in this subclass.
Therefore, to avoid any potential uncertainty with regard to the scope of subclass E01D,
Rapporteur recommends IPC/WG either:
1. add a new general residual group at the end of subclass E01D with the following
numbering and wording specified by the Guide “E01D 99/00
Subject matter
not otherwise provided for in this subclass”, or
2. slightly expand the scope of existing group E01D 19/00 to “Structural or
constructional details of bridges; specially adapted accessories for bridges”.
ANNEX
DE10345205 - The arrangement has coffers fabricated from a lightweight metal e.g.
aluminum, where the arrangement is placed under a bridge. The coffers cover an open
steel substructure under the bridge to block the entry of a pigeon into the open steel
substructure. The coffers are evenly distributed along the bridge with respect to the
bridge mass.
EP0799935 - The shuttering has an elongated beam carrier (10) which has on its front
side (11) a seat for a wooden beam (12) and engages with a link (18) on a base part (16)
located on the ground. An adjuster (20) for adjusting the angle position of the beam
carrier engages the base part and the beam carrier. Along the beam carrier several
shuttering holders (15) with counterpoised distances are arranged, of which each has a
base part with corresponding link and adjuster. The adjuster comprises a double spindle.
The beam carrier has a fixture device (30) for an auxiliary beam carrier to be fixed on its
upper side. The link engages on the rear side of the beam carrier turned away from the
seat.
US4672781 - A cornice for a construction work having an upright surface has a plurality
of similar elongated panels of like section and predetermined length. These panels are
laterally concave and each have a pair of parallel longitudinal edges and opposite
longitudinal ends. A plurality of respective mounts each generally complementary to the
concave section of the panels are anchored on the surface spaced apart by a distance
equal to the length of the panels. Interengaging formations on the mounts and on the
edges of the panels allow the panel edges to be hooked to the mounts. A tensioning
device secures the respective panel snugly to the respective mount. Each mount
comprises an outer mount member of a convex shape complementary to the concave
section of the panels and an inner bracket fixed on the outer member. The anchoring
device is secured to the inner bracket.
DE19802762 - The bridge portal has two wind power installations located on it, whose
masts (1,2) are connected in force-transmitting fashion by a carrier (3) provided with
solar aggregates so that the plant in the wind/solar hybrid system communicates workwise with storage apparatus for bridge lighting (5) and railway heating (6). The
construction of the portal forms a unit separate from the bridge construction and can be
added on afterwards. Wind power plants and carriers form a unit architecturally and
blend harmoniously into the landscape.
US5487199 - An apparatus and method are disclosed for preventing or inhibiting the
vandalism of bridges and other like structures. The apparatus includes a slant plate device
having an elongate plate which is positioned so as to extend downwardly and outwardly
from a central position on the vertical wall of an I-beam to a position adjacent a far lateral
edge of the bottom flange of the I-beam. The plate is sloped sufficiently to inhibit a
person from standing on the lower flange of the I-beam while applying graffiti or
otherwise vandalizing the bridge. Several different support and attachment structures are
also disclosed. The method includes positioning the elongate plate at an angle and
attaching the plate to some permanent structure associated with the I-beam.