How do I read and interpret an IPC symbol?

To read and interpret an International Patent Classification (IPC) symbol, follow these steps:

  1. Identify the section letter (A-H)
  2. Read the two-digit class number
  3. Note the subclass letter
  4. Interpret the group/subgroup numbers

For example, in the symbol A 01 B 1/24:

  • A: Section (Human Necessities)
  • 01: Class
  • B: Subclass
  • 1/24: Group (Main group 1/00, subgroup 24)

The MPEP states: Any third or fourth digit after the oblique stroke is to be read as a decimal subdivision of the second or third digit, respectively; e.g. 3/426 is to be read as “three slash forty-two point six”, not three slash four hundred and twenty six and is to be found after 3/42 and before 3/43. This helps in understanding the hierarchical structure of the classification.

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Tags: ipc symbol interpretation, patent classification symbols, reading ipc codes