Although the IPC clearly defines each category, when classifying patent marks, you need to follow the IPC classification principles. The IPC Classification Table defines 5 classification principles:
(1) Overall classification
Some technical topics should be classified as a whole as much as possible instead of classifying its individual parts. The constituent departments are classified separately.
(2) Functional classification
Technical topics are classified into functional classification positions according to functional classification; if the functional classification position does not exist in the classification table, they are classified into appropriate application classification positions.
(3) Application classification
Some technical topics are classified into application classification positions according to application classification; if the application classification position does not exist in the classification table, it should be classified into the appropriate functional classification Location.
(4) Both functional classification and application classification
Some technical topics are classified into functional classification positions according to function classification and into application classification positions according to application classification. If the functional classification position does not exist in the classification table, only the application classification position will be classified; if the application classification position does not exist in the classification table, only the functional classification position will be classified.
(5) Classification of independent claims and dependent claims