US PATENT CLASS 472
Class Notes


Current as of: June, 1999
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472 /   HD   AMUSEMENT DEVICES



DEFINITION

Classification: 472/

This class is the generic class providing for the amusement

or recreation of human beings, and includes patents relating to devices of the type, the principal purpose of which is for the amusement, entertainment, or recreation of human beings, unless by analogy of structure or by other functions they are classified in other classes.

(1) Note. The expression "for the amusement, entertainment, or recreation of human beings" includes either (a) those persons who are using or are otherwise directly involved with the amusement device or apparatus or (b) those persons who are observing or viewing (i.e., the audience or spectators) the persons who are using the amusement device or apparatus.

(2) Note. This class includes, unless otherwise classified in other classes, patents relating to apparatus intended to be used at an amusement park or on the stage of a theater provided the function of the apparatus is for the amusement, entertainment, or recreation of human beings.

(3) Note. This class also includes, unless otherwise classified in other classes, patents relating to the structure of the immediate playing area (i.e., the defined area in which the athletes or contestants are confined during the performance of an athletic, recreational, or sporting event) of a sports arena, ball game court, athletic or game playing field, or track provided the sole function is for the amusement, recreation, or entertainment of human beings.

(4) Note. Also included in this class, unless otherwise classified in other classes, are patents relating to a building, or a part thereof, provided the sole function is for the amusement or entertainment of human beings.

REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

40, Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting, appropriate subclasses for a sign, exhibit, or other display device of that class which may also be amusing in nature to perform its function of attracting and holding the attention of an observer. Also see the Search Class notes under 57, and 58 below.

52, Static Structures (e.g., Buildings),

6+, for a building structure related to means forming the locus of a center of attraction, e.g., a stage or means forming a performing area. This class (472) takes such structure which contributes to the attraction, e.g., scenery or devices used by a speaker or artist. Also see the Search Class notes under subclasses 1, 48, and 75, below.

104, Railways,

53+, for an amusement railway.

182, Fire Escape, Ladder, or Scaffold,

48+, for an escape chute for a person and subclasses 137+ for a body catcher or life net.

273, Amusement Devices: Games, appropriate subclasses for a species of amusement device, commonly called a game, which involves a contest of skill and in which the result of such contest can be determined by the rules defined for the game. See the Notes appended to the Class 463 definition for the relationship between the game Classes 273, 463, and 473.

280, Land Vehicles, appropriate subclasses for various types of land vehicles, especially

827+, for a simulation, for example, a progressive rocking horse; subclasses 841+ for a skate or ski; subclasses 845+ for a sled; and subclass 47.1 for a person-supporting body connected to wheels so as to effect body rocking as the wheels rotate.

297, Chairs and Seats, appropriate subclasses for a device for supporting the weight of a person in a seated position in general. Also see the Search Class notes under 95, 110, 114, 118, and 124 below.

404, Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus,

17+, and 71 for pavement and road structure.

434, Education and Demonstration, appropriate subclasses for an apparatus or a process intended for the purpose of instruction or demonstration in general, and especially

29+, for apparatus intended to be used for the purpose of instructing or testing a person in the operation of a vehicle.

441, Buoys, Rafts, and Aquatic Devices, appropriate subclasses for an aquatic device in general; particularly

129+, for a body-supporting buoyant device in general. A buoyant device made to simulate an animal, fish, fowl, etc., or any part thereof, where such simulation is claimed, is proper for Class 472. However, where such simulation is disclosed but not claimed, classification of the buoyant device is proper for Class 441. See the (2) Note, under subclass 129 of Class 441, for a statement of this line. Also see particularly subclasses 65+ for a surfboard, aquaplane, or other device intended to be used for skimming or walking on the surface of a body of water.

446, Amusement Devices: Toys, for a species of amusement device, commonly called a toy, which is principally intended for the amusement or recreation of a child wherein there is

some physical interaction between the child and the toy.

463, Amusement Devices: Games, for a species of amusement device, commonly called a game, which involves a contest of skill and in which the result of such contest can be determined by the rules defined for the game. This is the residual class for a game. See the Search note to Class 473 definition below for the relationship between the game Classes 463 and 473.

473, Games Using Tangible Projectile, for a game in which a ball, missile, or other such tangible game projectile (other than a simulation or representation thereof) is used during play of a game or sport. The relationship between Class 463 and Class 473 is that Class 463 is the residual class for a game, while Class 473 provides only for a specific type of game in which a ball, missile, or other such tangible projectile is used during play thereof. (However, note those exceptions specified in the Class 463 definition and its appended notes.) Accordingly, if a game which uses a ball, missile, or other such tangible game projectile (other than a simulation or representation thereof) during play of the game is recited, then classification is in Class 473; otherwise, classification is in Class 463. Furthermore, a game apparatus or means which uses a simulation or representation of a game or sport projectile (e.g., a light-ray simulation of a projectile or a videogame representation of a projectile, etc.) is classified in Class 463, since such simulation or representation of a projectile is not an actual or physical object which can be touched and handled (i.e., tangible) as required by Class 473.

482, Exercise Devices, appropriate subclasses for an apparatus intended to be operated by a human user for the purpose of conditioning or developing a muscle or participating in a track, field, or gymnastic activity.